Onyx is one of quartz diversities with impurities in the rock. The mineral can be of different shades – from pale-green to saturated black, also one can meet striped, veiny, interspersed and colorful examples. The stone can be translucent and transmit light and it can be completely opaque.
Stone onyx is a natural semiprecious mineral which is widely used in the jewelry business and in construction.
Onyx is one of quartz diversities with impurities in the rock. The mineral can be of different shades – from pale-green to saturated black, also one can meet striped, veiny, interspersed and colorful examples. The stone can be translucent and transmit light and it can be completely opaque.
Qualities of onyx make it similar to such popular minerals as marble or granite. Onyx doesn’t yield to physical and chemical qualities of the most valuable marble grades – white and pink. Its density is 2,6 g/cm3, 6,5-7 points on the Mohs hardness scale and its trump card is high transparency of some kinds. In construction one uses marble onyx which is similar to marble by its composition. It contains calcium and aragonite and beautiful stripes and broad patterns are provided by copper, magnesium and iron inclusions. Hardness of onyx and its characteristics for cold resistance, water absorption and abrasion are better than marble’s ones.
Onyx deposits are in many countries – Pakistan, Algeria, Iran, Mexico and Egypt. In Russia a semiprecious stone is mined in Primorsky Territory, in Chukotka, on the Kolyma. The most valuable kind is chalcedony variety that is rarely met in the Russian Federation; it is mined in the countries of South America, India, on the Arabian Peninsula. The most famous places where onyx is mined are Cupp Coutunn and Karklyukskoye field. There the extracted mineral is used for making plenty of interesting things and in the deposits one can see even stalactites and stalagmites from onyx.
• Sardonyx — agate with alternating stripes of red, orange, fulvous or white color.
• Chalcedony – white and gray stripes.
• Marble onyx – various shades of green.
• Trilaminar onyx – plenty of thin lines of vinous-red, blue, white color.
• White onyx – pale-pink or light-aquamarine shade of white stone.
• Arabic onyx that is also named black – dark stone with white lines or inclusions.
• Carnelian – stone of red and white color.
• Onyx agate – gray onyx with inclusions.
• Cave onyx – a brown stone with veins of different shades.
• Plain – stone which stripes are two tones lighter or darker than the main color, for example, pink onyx.
Legends say that this semiprecious stone came from the nails of the Greek goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite. The name of stone comes from the ancient Greek language where it has a meaning “nail”. Ancient Greeks and Romans referred only blue stone to onyx that was named chalcedony and they revered it highly. The description of stone is met in many old books.
Onyx is a Kings’ stone; palaces have been decorated with it since time immemorial; it was inserted in crowns, rods, swords of kings, it was made into cups, bowls. One of the most famous legends says that onyx was a building material for the palace of Solomon. They say that there were no windows in the palace because a translucent sardonyx transmitted light without them.
Marble onyx is famous for its ability to contain odors. In Ancient Egypt it was applied to making precious perfume, lipsticks and various healing incense jars. In Ancient Rome amulets made of onyx were popular. Romans believed that onyx gives power over people, lets its owner foresee tricks of the enemies and presents a gift of speech and diplomacy.
Finishing of walls with onyx. One of the showy variants of finishing interior is a wall of onyx. Made of slabs they impress with their aesthetic and practical properties. Low percentage of water absorption in combination with the built-in backlight allows creating an amazing construction with a glow charming with its beauty. The health benefits of onyx cannot be ignored. Literally absorbing negative energy and creating a good home environment onyx helps developing a gift of eloquence, sense of purpose and inspiration.
Finishing of floor with onyx. One of traditional variants of applying this natural material is the organization and design of the floor. Being different with high aesthetic qualities and outstanding physical and chemical characteristics this noble stone is a profitable investment for years. Floor of onyx will become a décor of the dining room or a living room. Such depth and variety of color shades, exclusivity of pattern and uniqueness of lighting effects can’t be reproduced by any artificial analogue.
Products of onyx. Due to its transparency which is highly valued by designers onyx frequently becomes a component part of stained-glass windows and mosaics. Bar counters and fireplaces with backlights inside are finished with onyx. Decorative products of onyx are most often made of slabs – large stone plates. It is very convenient to cut out elements of any shape from them. Also onyx slabs are the material for making countertops, pillars, window sills and many other stone products.
