Onyx

A true Onyx is made of silica, but within the stone industry, Onyx refers to a group of stones made up of banded calcites and other carbonate materials.

In its make-up it can form in a similar way to Limestone and Travertine, these materials form in beds with ‘sedimentary’ lines, enabling cutting of the block across or through the vein, allowing greater variance of pattern and colour from slab to slab. The colour spectrum is extensive from greens, reds, greys and pinks with pure white being the most sought after. Onyx is one of only a small selection of natural materials that are translucent, allowing light to pass through them amplifying their natural beauty and adding a further dimension to your design. The rarity of the stone makes it more desirable, thus Cullifords prides itself in finding the best quality slabs.

In recent years it has become a popular choice in interior design. It has been used as kitchen worktops, flooring, reception desks, bar tops, saunas, and wall cladding among others, however, as with all decorative materials they are very delicate and require more maintenance than the average stone. They will scratch and they will stain, so must be well sealed and cared for with appropriate cleaning products. They will also come with many inherent characteristics that need to be considered when choosing, such as similar pitting described in the Granite, Marble & Quartzite sections previously. As with all softer natural materials they can be restored & rejuvenated over time by professional restorers.