Onyx: areas of origin, materials and further reading.
Towns and quarry districts
Kurdistan
Kurdistan
West Azerbaijan
Razavi Khorasan
Yazd · Taft area
Kerman
Kerman
Eight localities identified by Reza Molai for exploring Iranian onyx.
Ornamental onyx
Qorveh, Kurdistan, opens the onyx route identified by Reza Molai. The profile distinguishes the area of origin from the individual quarry name to be associated with a selected stone.
Explore the area ↗Ornamental onyx
Bijar is presented separately from Qorveh, although both are in the same province. When comparing supplies, keep origin, quarry name and block number distinct.
Explore the area ↗Ornamental onyx
Salmas, West Azerbaijan, is among the areas identified for the onyx guide. The geographical name identifies the area; colour, pattern and selection need documentation for each material.
Explore the area ↗Ornamental onyx
Mashhad is the reference area in Razavi Khorasan. This profile covers onyx; marbles from the same area, including Silver Stream, remain in the Marbles and breccias guide.
Explore the area ↗Ornamental onyx
Burago retains the name supplied by Reza Molai. Province and exact locality must be specified before placing a map point or associating it with a quarry.
Explore the area ↗Ornamental onyx
Turanposht, in the Taft area of Yazd province, is included in the route. The map marks the reference village, without identifying a quarry entrance.
Explore the area ↗Ornamental onyx
Sirjan has its own profile within Kerman province. To keep provenance clear, materials identified as Sirjan are not automatically grouped under the Kerman name alone.
Explore the area ↗Ornamental onyx
Kerman completes the route. The name can refer to the city or province: each material record should specify the extraction locality, keeping Sirjan as a separate area.
Explore the area ↗Ornamental onyx described by the USGS as “onyx marble” is a crystalline form of calcium carbonate deposited from aqueous solutions. It can display layering and translucency. A trade name should be accompanied by material identification.
Read article ↗An area can include several quarries and selections. A material enquiry should record locality, quarry and block number. Qorveh and Bijar, like Sirjan and Kerman, remain separate entries in this guide.
Read article ↗For a backlit project, prepare a sample at the proposed thickness and finish. View it under front lighting and with the light source selected for the project, recording the test conditions.
Read article ↗Guide localities and block availability are separate information. Browse material records for photographs, dimensions and availability status.
Open the onyx catalogue ↗