Almost any stone can be classified as an exotic stone. The distinction between one stone and the other is primarily based on the color and composition of the stone. Marble, granite and onyx are just some of the stones that can also be classified as exotic stones.

As with choosing furniture, selecting an exotic stone should be carefully done since the stone will be a major component of the room it will sit in. Color, clarity, pattern and finish all play major roles in the choosing of an exotic stone. Exotic stones come in all colors.

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Onyx is a banded variety form of quartz. Onyx is formed in parallel layers of minerals of different colors. It is used for making cameos, the figure being cut in one layer with the next as a background.

Onyx is available in a variety of colors.

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Marble is formed naturally in the Earth as the result of the mixing of minerals, heat and pressure. The veins and color grains of marble were liquid minerals that flowed through the stone when the Earth heated up. The intense heat softened the limestone to allow the liquids to flow through it. When the Earth cooled, the mineral flow stopped and gradually hardened to its current state.

Marble is a relatively soft stone; it is made up of calcium, just like your teeth. Its softness make it very desirable for sculpture and as a building stone.

Colors range from white to black, most often featuring yellows, reds and greens. Marble is frequently beautifully veined or clouded.

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Granite is a crystalline, granular rock, consisting of quartz, feldspar and mica. Granite is formed by volcanic material such as magma. Underneath the Earth’s surface, liquid magma cooled and solidified. Mineral gases and liquids penetrated the stone and created new crystalline formations resulting in various colors.

Granite is a very hard material and easier to maintain than marble. The harder the stone, the more resistant it is to abrasion. Yet, it is still porous and will stain.

Common colors include whites, grays, blacks and flesh-red colors.

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Travertine is a sedimentary stone created from the mineral deposits of glaciers, rivers, oceans, wind and plants. Those deposits accumulated and bonded together over millions of years through heat and pressure to form the hard and semi-crystalline stone.

Travertine contains lots of holes that were formed from water flowing through the stone. These holes are often filled with synthetic resins or cements. Requires lots of maintenance if the holes are not filled.

Colors are mostly tans, creams, almonds or varying reds.

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