Quartz countertop material is a manmade, engineered stone.  This material is made with natural quartzite, ground into a powder, and mixed with resins and pigments molded into slabs.  Since slabs are manmade, slabs are consistent.  Quartz comes in a variety of colors and styles, many to mimic natural stone.  This material is strong and crack resistant, but not resistant to heat and can be burned.  It is stain resistant as it is a non-porous material.  Quartz requires no maintenance other than daily cleaning.  Suitable for indoor applications; outdoor applications only with UV rated quartz.