Onyx is a precious gemstone material that is composed of silica, or silicone dioxide. The stone is a form of quartz that is lightweight and porous. Onyx comes in organic colors such as red, orange, and brown. In order to obtain colors such as black or yellow, the stone must go through an artificial treatment process. It contains natural layers or bands of color that run throughout the stone, which are typically brown, black, or white. These bands form as additional minerals mixed with silica cool in the gas cavities in lava, depositing layers of mineral upon one another. Onyx’s end uses include jewelry, shower walls, statues, flooring and wall tiles, countertops, flooring slabs, and wet walls.
