Quartzite is a unique natural rock made up of interlocking quartz crystals resulting in a remarkably dense and hard rock. To quickly and cleanly cut a material of this quality requires a specialized blade.

More than 25 years ago, Brian, Mike and John Rector first started pulling fieldstone out of the woods and hills of Tennessee with their father. They recognized there was an opportunity in the masonry business and started Plateau Masonry in 1986.

14-year-old Thomas wanted to get a job, but no one would hire him, because of his age and small stature. So he and his younger brother, Evan, chose to quarry the site their father had originally staked out in Idaho, calling themselves Star Stone Quarries.

As the result of continuous investments in quarries and factories, Brazilian stone producers are a steady source of new material. The following is a glimpse of the numerous stones that have been introduced recently.