Stone type
Dolomite
A hugely popular white-and-grey stone — and the most misunderstood label in the trade. Here is the honest truth about what it actually is.
Super White (also sold as "Super White Dolomite" or, misleadingly, "Super White Quartzite") is a Brazilian stone with a soft white-to-grey ground and gentle grey veining. It is extremely popular because it delivers a clean, bright, marble-like look at a friendlier price than Italian marble.
The honest truth the industry often glosses over: Super White is a dolomite (dolomitic marble), not a true quartzite. Dolomite sits between marble and quartzite in hardness and behavior — harder than classic Carrara marble, but softer than true quartzite, and it can etch. If a salesperson tells you Super White is a quartzite, they are either mistaken or rounding up. We would rather you buy it knowing exactly what it is.
Super White is a dolomite, roughly 4–5 on the Mohs scale — harder and more scratch-resistant than a typical marble, but not as hard as a true quartzite like Taj Mahal. Critically, because it contains calcite/dolomite, it can etch from acids (lemon, wine, vinegar), though generally less dramatically than a soft marble. It is porous and needs sealing.
So: more durable than Carrara, more forgiving than people fear, but not the bulletproof quartzite it is sometimes sold as. For a client who wants a true no-etch, no-worry surface, specify an actual quartzite. For a client who loves the look and will accept some marble-like care, Super White is a genuinely good value — and a honed finish hides etching well.
A soft, bright white-to-grey ground with gentle, flowing grey veining — clean, calm, and close to a light Carrara or Mont Blanc. Its versatility and brightness are a big part of its popularity.
Honed is the smart pick for working surfaces — it hides etching and water spots. Polished brightens the white but shows etch marks more readily; keep it to lower-use areas.
Kitchen counters and islands, vanities, backsplashes, and feature walls — anywhere a bright calm white is wanted at a sensible price. Specify honed and set honest etch expectations for a busy kitchen.
Cool and neutral palettes — white and grey cabinetry, nickel, chrome, black, and white-oak. An easy, flexible neutral.
If the etch question matters to the client:
Super White offers strong value for its look; cleaner, brighter, more consistent lots and larger slabs price higher. NSC sources it on demand; request current wholesale pricing and availability — and we will tell you exactly what the block is.
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It is a dolomite (dolomitic marble), not a true quartzite, despite often being sold as "Super White Quartzite." Dolomite is harder than classic marble but softer than quartzite, and it can etch. Buy it knowing what it actually is.
Yes — because it contains calcite/dolomite, acids can etch it, generally less dramatically than a soft marble but more than a true quartzite. A honed finish hides etching well.
Reasonably — at around 4–5 Mohs it is harder and more scratch-resistant than typical marble, but not bulletproof like quartzite. Seal it, specify honed, and set honest etch expectations. For a true no-worry surface, choose an actual quartzite.
They look similar and share the same quartzite-vs-dolomite confusion. Both can range from harder to softer lots — the key is confirming what the specific block actually is.
It delivers a clean, bright, marble-like look at a friendlier price than Italian marble, with better durability than classic marble. The main caution is the mislabeling around its hardness.
We source it to order and will tell you exactly what the block is. Tell us your project and we will send current pricing, availability, and photos.
