Have you seen a stone where the light passes through?
The onyx stone is known for being translucent, giving us a decorative asset. Its properties are also suitable for material building and construction, allowing us to manufacture necessities for one’s place.
Some examples of using onyx are tables, countertops, sinks, backsplash, flooring, wall cladding, and mosaics.
We’ll be guiding you through these products and structure’s parts, and you will also read more about the stone, such as onyx’s properties and cost.
Introduction to Onyx: What’s It Made Of?
Onyx is a variety of banded Agate, which is then a variety of microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony) but with translucence.
Compared with other natural stones that come from under the Earth and are created due to intense heat and pressure like with marble, the Earth forms onyx right on the surface.
Onyx can form from caves or bedrock openings. The primary necessity for it to develop is groundwater or spring water; any place with these kinds of waters can be a place of birth for the said natural stone.
Onyx Stone Properties
There are rocks that are permeable and can hold water, which we call aquifers. When these aquifers get too filled, they will overflow, and water will emerge from the surface; this is when springs are created.
Springs have numerous minerals such as calcium, calcium carbonate, magnesium, potassium, and silica. We mentioned that any place with groundwater or spring water could give birth to onyx, but only if minerals are present.
That’s why onyx is primarily made of calcite, and its colorful bands consist of morganite and quartzite (silica minerals).
Onyx Stone Colors and Pattern
Like other natural stones, the earth naturally affects the colors and patterns of onyx. Sometimes, we refer to it as “banded calcite,” usually having parallel and straight lines, to be specific (compared to the rest of Agates whose lines are wavy or concentric).
Aside from being translucent, onyx is rich in color due to the different minerals that combine during its formation. For example, the kind of minerals in the groundwater or spring water and their amount will reflect the stone’s color and bands.
The strength of the water flow is also one contributor to the outcome of the onyx’s appearance. That’s why each of them is unique.
Different Applications of Onyx
Now that we have discussed the properties of onyx and how it forms, we listed some of the products and parts of a structure where we can use the stone.
Sinodec has manufactured and participated in many projects involving onyx. Hence this article also contains professional experience from a stone factory in Xiamen, China.
Table
Diving into interior design, an onyx table is a brilliant way to create a statement in one’s home. With the variety of color choices, it can be the focal point of the place, and the other parts, such as the objects or walls, may follow a pattern or a compatible shade.
While a focal point is attributed to what the visitor will notice when they enter your room, we don’t need to place the onyx table right in front of the entrance or in the middle of the space. It can be your coffee or dining table or a simple but attractive onyx plinth.
This beautiful pink onyx round table with a unique metallic body is perfect for the living room, especially if we want to achieve a minimalist or contemporary look.
Onyx plinths can be a side or end table in any room, making it a place to put important belongings while keeping them within reach.
Countertop
Even though countertops are mainly for food preparation, it still takes up a lot of space in the kitchen. Hence, it’s only natural that we want them to be pleasant in the eyes and durable too.
Photo By Masterpiece Design Group as seen on Houzz.com
A green onyx countertop can be our worktop or table. Since we will expose it to different food and liquids, we must also consider the quality.
Thankfully, onyx is sturdy, although porous. Hence, our onyx countertops or tables will need proper care and regular sealing (ranging from every 1 to 3 years). This will also help retain the appearance, especially for light-colored ones.
Sink
Illuminating onyx is a popular method to emphasize its translucence, making the room more ethereal and luxurious.
Since the bathroom is where we start and end our day, it must be calm and relaxing. A yellow onyx sink that is backlit will create a variation in color through a glow.
Backlighting with LED lights is safe if installed correctly by professionals and is water resistant. The lights’ brand and quality also matter since we don’t want to face problems in the long run.
Backsplash
Another from the kitchen is the backsplash, which aims to protect the walls from water, oil, grease, and food.
Although backsplashes today are mainly used for decoration, someone rarely splashes around the kitchen enough to damage the walls.
Photo by SHERI KESTEN DESIGN as seen on Houzz.com
If you’re confident that you don’t dirty the walls when you cook, then a white onyx backsplash is one for your kitchen. Since it’s white, it can match any color and almost any theme.
Flooring
Can you imagine a glowing floor illuminated by natural light from your windows? That’s an onyx flooring for you.
Since this stone is durable, it’s also suitable for high-traffic areas. Of course, just like any other flooring material, onyx floors will need proper maintenance, similar to other natural stones.
We always advise cleaning dirt and wiping off liquid when they touch the material. Regarding cleaning agents, they must be neutral in pH level or formulated especially for natural onyx.
Wall Cladding
Installing interior wall cladding will increase the room’s appeal, mainly if we use natural stones that provide value.
We can install the cladding on or just a part of the wall. The latter is more of making a statement in the room, possibly with the onyx cladding being a different color than the rest of the wall. It can also be the same color but with a lighter or darker shade.
This green onyx cladding is an example, creating a beautiful contrast with the rest of the brown walls. It’s also an excellent alternative to putting up paintings or photos.
In our earlier articles, we discussed lightweight stone panels and how glassed-backed onyx will be lighter and easier to install than traditional onyx. We can use either variation, but lightweight stones have numerous advantages over traditional ones.
Mosaic
For our last use of onyx, we have the mosaic. Creating marble mosaics is our specialty, and we use surplus materials since we don’t want to waste slabs. We can also add onyx to the mosaic to achieve the clients’ desired color and design.
Is Onyx Expensive?
Depending on the quality—either of the slab or finished product—onyx is decently priced, although it’s more expensive than granite and quartz.
Using onyx countertops as an example, we can spend $40 up to $250 per square foot; it’s almost like marble, but the latter is the most costly.
Conclusion
Onyx is a beautiful stone formed on the Earth’s surface by groundwater or spring water, and we can use it for various purposes in construction and items for our homes or any establishment.
Kitchen furniture and bathroom fixtures such as tables, countertops, and sinks can all be manufactured using Onyx. Non-structural parts can also use the said stone, like wall cladding, flooring, mosaics, and backsplashes.
