Mexican onyx
Definition
Noun: - A hard, compact variety of calcite, also known as onyx marble or cave onyx. It is a form of travertine, a type of limestone deposited by mineral springs, and is often banded and used as a decorative stone.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The fireplace was beautifully faced with polished Mexican onyx.
- Mexican onyx is frequently carved into ornamental objects like vases and lamp bases due to its translucency and attractive bands.
Advanced Usage
- As a geological term: In geology and mineralogy, the term is used to specify this particular banded calcite formation, distinguishing it from true silicate onyx.
- The specimen was identified not as agate but as Mexican onyx.
Variants and Related Words
- Onyx marble: A common synonym for Mexican onyx.
- Cave onyx: Another term for the same material.
- Travertine: The broader category of limestone to which Mexican onyx belongs.
- Calcite: The mineral composition of Mexican onyx (calcium carbonate).
Synonyms
- Onyx marble
- Cave onyx
- Alabaster (Note: True alabaster is gypsum, but the term is sometimes used commercially for similar-looking calcite stones like Mexican onyx.)
Related Phrases/Compounds
- Onyx: A term often confused with Mexican onyx. True onyx is a banded silicate mineral (a type of chalcedony/quartz), whereas Mexican onyx is a carbonate mineral.
Noun
-
a hard compact kind of calcite
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