Bronzite Countertops (Pros and Cons)

Below is our bronzite countertops design guide including different types such as granite, quartzite, and laminate bronzite, pros and cons, and how much these countertops cost.
The first thing that probably came to mind when you heard about bronzite granite was what it actually was. Technically speaking, it’s a type of granite that has the design and undertones of a bronze metal’s appearance and traits.

It has a brown base and it’s usually dotted with black and brown dots. The dots in the bronzite slab countertops are called “garnets”. And they are common in each and every single granite piece or slab out there.

What Is Bronzite?

Although bronzite is commercially known as a type of granite, it isn’t 100 percent granite. It’s a softer form of granite which can range from nougat brown to actual metallic bronze in color. It can also come in lot of possible finishes from brushed, polished, honed, aged, rockfaced, tumbled, leathered, or even sandblasted.

Most of the bronzite quarries in the world are in Brazil. Because of its softer nature, bronzite is perfect for architectural uses in the home’s interiors. It’s specifically prized for its exotic appeal brought on by its attractive dark chocolate colors and dark gold highlights that have hints of metallic luster in them.

Bronzite’s uniqueness goes far beyond its interesting appearance. It’s most suitable for indoor use because of its composition. It’s made out of part Magnetite, part Ferromagnetic properties.

So on top of its bold and metallic design, it has magnetic properties to boot as well. It’s a countertop material unlike any other and goes beyond the traditional confines of what regular natural granite stone should be.

Bronzite Countertop Pros And Cons

See bronzite countertops pros and cons below.

Pros of Getting a Bronzite Countertop

It’s sustainable. A single bronzite quarry can provide hundreds to thousands of materials for projects both for residential and commercial purposes for centuries. On top of all this, bronzite is an almost complete countertop material in its most natural and rawest state.

Once it has been quarried, it requires very minimal processing for it to be prepared for use in the kitchen. It doesn’t have a complicated production process and neither does it have toxic and harmful emissions.

It’s heat resistant. Bronzite countertops will not blister or melt upon contact with heat. It’s one of the most heat resistant materials you can make out of a countertop.

You can place hot pans straight out of the oven without ever being afraid that it will damage the bronzite surface. It is, however, recommended to use a trivet specifically for kitchen implements that emit heat for a prolonged period of time.

It’s scratch resistant. Because it’s a type of granite, it scores a 7 on the Mohs scale, which is used to measure mineral hardness. This technically means that very few other minerals or materials will be able to scratch it. 

You can enjoy the benefits of undermount sinks. This type of sink installation is common for natural stone material countertops. This gives you the advantage of wiping any spills directly into the sink without worrying about water getting caught on the lip of the sink.

You can do this for so many types of kitchen sinks from cast iron sinks, to solid surface sinks, or even to stainless steel ones.

Cons of Getting a Bronzite Countertop

Difficult to repair. It’s very rare to see any cracks or chips on a bronzite countertop but in the unfortunate event that it does happen, it needs to be repaired by a professional. It isn’t exactly the kind of thing that you can just opt to do yourself. 

The edges are the common problematic spots in a bronzite countertop and care must be taken in ensuring that they don’t come across enough impact to actually get them to chip.

They need to be sealed. This is mainly because bronzite is a porous material. What this means is that any liquid spilled on the surface will be absorbed into the stone and will be evaporated later on.

This isn’t exactly a bad thing but if you’re all about maintaining the integrity of the surface and easy cleanup, it would be best to get bronzite surfaces that are already sealed before they’re actually installed so that they don’t absorb liquids easily.

Cost. Because of its exotic origins and appearance, bronzite can be on the higher end of the price scale but isn’t as expensive as marble. Bronzite typically ranges at $20 and above per square foot before special handling and installation.

A typical kitchen countertop is at 30 square feet or more. If you find this a little difficult to envision, a good rough estimate would be 5.5 feet by 5.5 feet area. 

Bronzite Granite Countertop

Bronzite granite is a type of natural stone that’s being quarried specifically in Brazil. It’s categorized as an exotic type of granite and is characteristic for its golden or at times dark brown color.

On top of its obvious use in the kitchen as a countertop, bronzite granite is also highly recommended for to be used in the bathroom, in the shower area, as wall cladding, or even as a flooring material.

Bronzite granite as a countertop marries the benefits of granite’s natural appeal and durability to the show-stopping appearance of bronzite. It’s a statement piece all on its own and the best part about it is that it doesn’t need any type of embellishment at all. It can hold its own.

Bronzite Quartzite Countertop

A bronzite quartzite countertop typically has a polished finish so it’s smoother and shinier than its granite counterpart. It has warm tones of brown, rust, copper and has burgundy streaks or veins all over the slab’s surface area.

It’s a great choice for a countertop material option especially if you’re looking for something a little more beyond the ordinary.

There are also variants that are quite textured so that adds on another interesting effect on your kitchen countertop space if you’re up for it. Read more about the types of kitchen countertops here.

Bronzite Laminate Countertop

If you like all of the benefits that come along with a bronzite countertop in the kitchen but aren’t too fond of the price tag that goes with it, you might want to consider a bronzite laminate countertop.

It isn’t as solid and as authentic as the real thing but it’s a great layer to tack on to whatever existing material you may have for your old countertop. It’s a great kitchen upgrade without breaking the bank. 

Bronzite Countertop Prices

Cost. Because of its exotic origins and appearance, bronzite can be on the higher end of the price scale but isn’t as expensive as marble. Bronzite typically ranges at $20 and above per square foot before special handling and installation.

A typical kitchen countertop is at 30 square feet or more. This means that a bronzite countertop slab can start off at a price of $600 or higher, depending on the quality of the natural stone, its origins, and the actual thickness of the slab. If you find this a little difficult to envision, a good rough estimate would be 5.5 feet by 5.5 feet area. 

Visit our guide on kitchen counter measurements for more related content.