Travertine tile colors?

Question

What is the best type of travertine? I found 24"X24" turkish travertine for a very good price. There are gray lines in the travertine. Salesman said, the grays are onyx mixed with the travertine. Is this true? or are these impurities?

Answer 1

Travertine is a natural stone. It will have natural stone characteristics. Some people considered these to be impurities...some consider it to be what gives it its' character.

The dirt, stone, etc. that makes up travertine, either forms travertine or marble, depending on the climate around it when it is formed and where it is formed. Some travertines have veining or pits in it. You can also find it honed and filled which means the little pits or 'holes' have been filled in and the surface is smooth.

Answer 2

Travertine, a sedimentary rock, is a natural chemical precipitate of carbonate minerals; typically aragonite, but often recrystallized to, or primarily calcite; which is deposited from the water of mineral springs (especially hot springs) or streams saturated with calcium carbonate.
When pure, travertine is white, but often is brown to yellow due to impurities.
When carbon dioxide-rich water percolates through rocks in limestone areas, the water dissolves the limestone and becomes saturated with it. When the water resurfaces later, the sudden drop in pressure and the change in temperature cause the water to release the carbon dioxide gas, much like fizzy drinks. The calcium carbonate then recrystallizes, often over minute underwater plants. The resulting rock is typically quite porous with numerous cavities. When exceptionally porous it is known as calcarious tufa.