S
TONECARE TECHNIQUESOnyx is highly prized for its beautiful banded, mottled translucent appearance.
GROUP |
Sedimentary | ||
COMMON |
Calcareous | ||
COMPOSITION |
Compact, dense, fine-grained, translucent variety of calcite or aragonite, with accessory metallic oxides acting as tinting agents. | ||
HARDNESS |
Soft | MOHS' SCALE | 3 |
POROSITY % |
ABSORPTION % | Low | |
WEATHERING |
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TENDENCIES |
Absorbs oil and liquids...Easily scratched...Acid sensitive | ||
COLORS |
Multi-colored ranging in whites...creams...yellows...greens...reds and browns, translucent to solid in appearance. | ||
FINISHES |
Highly Polished | ||
NOTATIONS |
Water and oil repellent treatment is highly recommended. | ||
This dimensional stone that is used for decorative purposes
is a variety of travertine, a
limestone. Onyx develops as a precipitate from cool to warm
water spring solutions.
This variety of travertine is not related to
a true geological "quartz onyx". The only
similarity is in their alternating bands of natural colors, from which this dimensional
stone
has received its name.
Commercially Onyx has been classified as a "Marble", because it can take a high
reflective polish.