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Onyx is a highly decorative material that has been used as a gemstone and as a decorative surfacing material. Many varieties of onyx include semi-translucent veining that may be backlit, creating a dramatic effect. Onyx was frequently used by the ancient Egyptians to create bowls and other decorative elements. Flouting the traditional rules of minimalist design, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe used onyx to create a semi-translucent wall in Villa Tugendhat.

General Information

All onyx will acid etch when exposed to acidic foods such as lemons or tomatoes. Most onyx has a moderate absorption rating and will stain when exposed to oil and highly-pigmented liquids. All onyx has a very low abrasion resistance rating; it will scratch, stun and crack. All onyx has naturally occurring cracks and fissures.

Care + Maintenance Tips

• • Onyx must be handled with extreme care in both fabrication and installation.

Onyx is suitable for interior wall applications, not for floors. Onyx is sometimes used on vanities and other non-food service countertops; in these instances, the end user must be made aware of its acid sensitivity and fragility.

• Always use a neutral detergent to clean onyx.
• Expect to see factory-repaired cracks and fissures. The quality of the repair is dependent upon the factory of origin, the fabricator of the stone and the installer.
• Onyx is formed of bands of chalcedony in alternating colors. It is crypto crystalline, consisting of fine inter growths of the silica minerals quartz and moganite. Its bands are parallel to one another, as opposed to the more chaotic banding that often occurs in agates.

Sardonyx is a variant in which the colored bands are sard (shades of red) rather than black. Black onyx is perhaps the most famous variety, but is not as common as onyx with colored bands. Artificial treatments have been used since ancient times to produce both the black color in “black onyx” and the reds and yellows in sardonyx. Most “black onyx” on the market is artificially colored.

American Granite Designs state of the art fabrication facility is located in Freehold, New Jersey. We Maintain on site an unparalleled array of stone surfaces available for your or your client’s immediate requirements. Our well trained professional staff can easily accommodate specialized edging, unusual angles, and seeks to take advantage of each stones special characteristics to enhance the beauty of the final product.

Why Choose Onyx Stone for Your Kitchen Countertops?