Onyx Crystal Marble looks like a gemstone, with wavy bands of color fused together in a fluid pattern. Onyx is considered part of the marble family because they both have the same mineral content. Onyx is not manufactured; it is a sedimentary rock, formed in cave interiors. Most slabs of Onyx are what a geologist would call banded calcite. This formation method results in the cryptocrystalline construction of the rock fabric, and it is the size and uniformity of these crystals that contribute to its classic translucent properties. Onyx is composed of, three simple ingredients; water, minerals, time. It is found in the mountainous regions and quarried in India, China, Italy, and Spain. Blocks are removed from the quarry; slabs are cut from the blocks and fabricated to be installed. Each block is different. Each slab is different. Slabs of Onyx are made by slicing down into the layers, revealing thousands of years of deposits.
Onyx Crystal Marble is a rock made of alternating layers of different colored calcite with alternating bands. A close-up of onyx slabs, reveal the intricate crystals of calcite and iron-rich color banding. Veins of banded calcite Onyx, forms from spring water or groundwater that has an abundance of calcite dissolved in it. When this water emerges at the mouth of a spring, the minerals come out and build a crust of calcite crystals. Over time, more water flows and more minerals settle out. The variations between the layers are caused by differences in the water flow rate and small amounts of impurities. In its most pure state calcite is white or clear, but it’s easily tinted by minor amounts of other minerals. The flowing layers of Onyx reflect subtle variations in the spring water, and add an artistic quality to the patterns and bands.
