Q. White Macaubus quartzite was installed yesterday and I noticed this "crack" when I hit gone from work and inspected it. Question is, is it a crack or fissure? When I run my nail over it, it does get caught. Just want to make sure I handle this correctly. Thanks!
A. Based on what you’re describing, the fact that your fingernail gets caught is the most important detail. That strongly points toward a crack rather than a fissure. Fissures are natural features in stone and, while they may be visible, they are usually smooth and level with the surface.
When you can feel a change in plane, a ridge, or a slight separation that catches your nail, that indicates the stone has split along that line rather than simply having a naturally occurring mineral variation. White Macaubus quartzite commonly has linear movement and veining, so fissures are not unusual in that material. However, fissures typically do not interrupt the surface plane.
Your stone has likely experienced stress or trauma at some point, whether during transport, fabrication, or installation. Cracks can run deeper into the slab, even if they are subtle on the surface. Since this was installed yesterday, the correct way to handle this is to contact the installer immediately and document the issue with photos.
While the stone itself is a natural product and not something they can “warranty” in the traditional sense, a reputable fabricator or installer will stand behind their work. If improper handling or inadequate support contributed to the issue, they should acknowledge it and take responsibility for the resulting crack. In many cases, minor cracks can be stabilized or repaired with epoxy, but that decision should be made by the fabricator after inspecting it in person.
This is a problem that should addressed as soon as possible. Cracks left unattended can worsen over time, especially in quartzite, which is very strong but also very rigid. Early evaluation gives you the best chance of a proper resolution, whether that’s a repair, reinforcement, or replacement if the integrity of the stone is compromised.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Hueston is the Chief Technical Director at SurfaceCarePROS.com and Director at StoneForensics.com. He is also the author of Stone and Tile Restoration: The Manual, a comprehensive online manual for stone and tile restoration contractors. [Learn more about Fred.]
Article ID: 858
Created: January 12, 2026
Last Updated: January 12, 2026
Author: Alice Dean
Online URL: https://surfacecarepros.com/kb/article/could-improper-installation-or-handling-be-the-cause-of-a-quartzite-crack-858.html