What is White Macaubas, and why is it also called Calacatta Macaubas?
Last updated November 2026.
Quick answer
- Look
- White ground, fine darker veins; blue-gray lines per one source
- Alternate name
- Calacatta Macaubas
- Grain
- Fine-grained
- Origin
- Brazil
- Rock type
- Quartzite per two sources; commonly dolomitic per a third
White Macaubas is a fine-grained white Brazilian stone with fine darker veins, sold as Calacatta Macaubas because its thin veining echoes Calacatta marble. Brachot and Dynamic Stone Tools call it true quartzite, yet a second Dynamic Stone Tools guide lists Bianco and Calacatta Macaubas among stones that are commonly dolomitic, so test your slab.
Ask about a piece in White Macaubas quartzite
What is White Macaubas, and why is it also called Calacatta Macaubas?
Calacatta Macaubas is simply a second trade name. Brachot describes White Macaubas as a white, fine-grained quartzite with fine darker veins, from Brazil, and lists Calacatta Macaubas as its alternative name. Sellers borrow Calacatta because thin, crisp veins on a white ground suggest the marble.
The borrowed name is the problem. Calacatta is a marble that etches and scratches. A buyer who sees the name may expect that look and the performance of a harder stone, and only one of those is guaranteed.
What are the properties of White Macaubas quartzite?
| Property | White Macaubas quartzite |
|---|---|
| Description | White fine-grained quartzite with fine darker veins [1] |
| Alternate name | Calacatta Macaubas [1] |
| Origin | Brazil [1] |
| Finish listed | Polished [1] |
| Veining | White background with blue-gray linear veining [2] |
| Acid response (one view) | Generally regarded as true quartzite with good acid resistance [2] |
| Acid response (other view) | Bianco and Calacatta Macaubas listed among commonly dolomitic stones [3] |
| Daltile related product | Macaubas Fantasy, code Q772, filed as natural quartzite [4] |
Numbers in brackets refer to the sources at the end of this page. Natural stone varies block to block.
Planning a piece in White Macaubas quartzite?
Tell us about the room. We reply within one business day with options, and every quote gives the exact dimensions and weight of the piece.
Why is White Macaubas called Calacatta Macaubas?
Calacatta is a marble name for white stone with bold veins, and sellers borrow it for look-alikes. Brachot lists Calacatta Macaubas as an alternative name for White Macaubas. The label describes the look and carries no promise about composition or origin.
In practice the veins are finer and more linear than the dramatic slashes of a classic Calacatta. A dealer sheet describes them as blue-gray lines, so expect a cooler, quieter pattern than the name implies.
Do the sources agree on what rock it is?
No. One Dynamic Stone Tools guide calls White Macaubas a Brazilian quartzite generally regarded as true quartzite with good acid resistance. A second guide from the same company, written for fabricators, lists Bianco Macaubas and Calacatta Macaubas among stones that are commonly dolomitic or sold under quartzite-adjacent names.
| Source | Says about White / Calacatta Macaubas |
|---|---|
| Brachot | Quartzite, fine-grained, fine darker veins |
| Dynamic Stone Tools (homeowner guide) | Generally true quartzite, blue-gray linear veining |
| Dynamic Stone Tools (fabricator guide) | Bianco and Calacatta Macaubas listed among commonly dolomitic stones |
The conflict is in the sources, not in this page. Lots differ, so only a test of your slab can resolve it.
Is White Macaubas the same as Macaubas Fantasy?
Not necessarily. Daltile lists Macaubas Fantasy as its own natural quartzite product, color code Q772, separate from other white Brazilian stones. The names overlap in the trade, so compare slab photographs and ask the seller which stone they mean.
Which test settles whether White Macaubas will etch?
An acid test on a hidden edge. Lemon juice or dilute acid with no reaction suggests quartzite; slow dulling or faint fizzing suggests dolomite. Run it on the slab you will receive, because one source calls the stone true quartzite and another lists it as often dolomitic.
Dolomite is no harder than Mohs 4, so a steel blade will scratch it. Quartzite will not be scratched.
How would White Macaubas serve in a bathroom?
If your slab is quartzite, it suits vanity tops and shower walls without etching worries. If it is dolomitic, treat it as a hard marble: seal it, wipe toothpaste and cleaners quickly, and prefer a honed face. Brachot lists only a polished finish, which shows etching most, so ask for a honed sample.
What should you ask a seller before paying quartzite prices?
A fabrication supplier warns that buyers may pay quartzite prices, which it describes as significantly higher than marble, for a stone that performs like marble. A short list of questions protects you:
- Which quarry and which lot is this slab from, and can I see all the slabs from it together?
- Does the invoice name the rock as quartzite, and is there a mineralogy report showing over 90% quartz?
- May I put lemon juice or vinegar on a back edge, and watch it for several minutes?
- What is the return policy if the slab etches after install?
Does Pietra Fonte make pieces in White Macaubas?
We don't currently offer White Macaubas. If sources are right that some lots are dolomitic marble, we carve marble to order, so ask what white-and-gray options exist. See marble, Calacatta and bespoke.
Sources
Every piece is made to order. Tell us about the room and we reply within one business day.
Get a quoteOrder the sample book