Description

Onyx – Black Tumbled Stones

Black Onyx has a Trigonal crystal system and is in the mineral class of oxide, the quartz group. It is a Chalcedony whose black coloring comes from the presence of iron and carbon. It is formed hydrothermally or in cooler solutions in the hollows of rocks.

Onyx actually occurs in a variety of colors. While predominantly black, it can also be black and white, red and white or an orange-brown, honey colored and white. When used in fine jewelry, please note that most has been dyed to remove any color imbalances and make it a pure, solid black. It is a stone that is carved easily, and I’m sure many of you have seen the horse head book ends and statues that have been a popular souvenir to bring home from visits to Mexico.