INFORMATION ABOUT ONYX

WHAT IS ONYX?

Onyx stones are in the group of semi-precious stones. There are some views that derives its meaning “nail” from Greek or “ring” from Assyrian as root of the word. In Turkish, onyx word can both used as a name of precious stones of marble in natural stone industry; and one of an agate that belongs to chalsedony stones used in jewelery sector. Real onyx is an agate stone comprising substantially with silicon minerals in nature. One of the marble species is called as onyx because it resembles in looks like it.

The onyx used in jewelery sector which belongs to chalsedony group is round layered. Interior structure is stringy, damascene and used as a carry jewelry. This type onyx is a member of quartz named as cryptocrystalline or microcrystalline. Cryptocrystalline species are not contain visible crystals but also found in dense structure in nature. The characteristic that classify onyx from other cryptocrystalline species is the possession of several layers with different colours. The layers of onyx is highly variable and can be found different colours white to black. Onyx species classified and named as according to colour layers; for example Sardonys has red and brown layers in its structure.

Onyx marble is composed of the precipitation of calcium carbonate in the cold spring waters. When compared the formation of onyx with the other natural stones formation; the spring waters that composed the onyx species is much more consist of mineral salts and precipitation is much more slower than the other natural stones. The stones formed in these conditions is crystalline, dense and very transparent in structure. Onyx marbles are in the four main types of marble and differentiated with the dense and transparent structures from other marbles. Transparent structure provide onyx species light permeability therefore; they are mostly used for decorative purposes. Onyx stones mostly found in nature as white, green, yellow and red colour.

APPLICATION AREAS OF ONYX MARBLE

Onyx marbles are mostly used in interior applications for decorative purposes because of its light permability and limited production. They are illuminated applied in lobby and foyer of public areas in order to provide visual richness with their unique decorative structures. The other usage areas of onyx marbles can be front desks and top coats of bars, reception desk facades, bars and entertainment venues column coverings and apartment entrance coatings.

As onyx marbles multi-color structure they can be used for the manufacturing of decorative objects. Chess sets, vases and figurines, jewelry and jewelry boxes, badges, candle holders and various animal figures are the good examples of decorative onyx products which are mostly manufacture in Afyon and Cappadocia Region of Turkiye.

Onyx marbles were mostly used for the decoration of temples in Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans in history. They were also decorate columns of the mosques of many Islamic civilizations.

Interior Application Areas Of Onyx Marble

Ornamental Usage Of Onyx Marble