Around the world in 6 materials
Natural stones tell millions of years of our planet’s history through their hues and tonal nuances. That’s why a stone’s place of origin has such a strong influence on its characteristics: certain corners of the world have undergone unique geological processes, giving us stones with colors that are truly one of a kind—found nowhere else.
In this article, we’d like to take you on a journey around the world to discover six iconic materials, from onyx to marble. What makes them so precious? Where do their colors come from?
First stop: Iran and White Onyx
Our first stop takes us to the Middle East—Iran, ancient Persia—where we meet our first material: White Onyx.
Pure and exceptionally precious, Iranian White Onyx is known for its milky, translucent glow, delicate texture, and subtly traced veining.
The origin of such luminous onyx is closely tied to water. Geological literature explains that onyx often forms through the deposition of carbonates (calcite and sometimes aragonite) from mineral-rich waters, in environments such as cavities or karst areas near springs. Its layered growth is precisely what creates the distinctive depth and translucency.
In the case of Iranian White Onyx, its especially “clean” appearance comes from a low presence of coloring impurities—one reason it’s considered among the rarest and most sought-after onyx varieties on the market. Its crystalline structure, however, also makes it particularly delicate: in some cases, slabs are reinforced with resins to stabilize natural micro-fractures and improve performance during fabrication and installation.
Second stop: Afghanistan and Pink Onyx
We stay in this region and move into Central Asia, to Afghanistan, to admire another captivating variety: Pink Onyx. Here too, water plays a key role in the layering of translucent carbonates.
The rosy tones are generally linked to the presence of minerals (often iron and manganese) that color some layers more than others.
Depending on the quarry and the block, the shade can vary widely: from a light pink with no veining, to a deeper pink with peachy reflections—or a stronger pink marked by white or black veins, making it especially striking for open-book (bookmatch) installations.
The slabs in our showroom come from highly selected blocks and are not altered with the application of tinted resins.
Third stop: Cambodia and New Four Season
We move to Southeast Asia and encounter a material that seems to hold an entire landscape within it: New Four Seasons. A decorative breccia with iridescent shades ranging from powder pink to sage green.
Geologically, its uniqueness comes from the fact that it is a breccia: a rock formed by “fragments” of stone and minerals that—after fracturing and ground movement—are compacted again and cemented over time by new mineral deposits.
It’s as if nature “broke and mended” the rock, creating a spontaneous mosaic of colors and textures that’s truly impossible to replicate.
Interested in this material? Discover our availability of New Four Season.
Fourth stop: Brazil and Blue Sodalite
Our journey continues to South America. We stop in Brazil to discover one of the most dramatic materials in our showroom: Blue Sodalite.
Only a very small number of blocks are available, which makes sourcing this natural stone extremely challenging.
At Marmo Elite, we have privileged access to the only quarry in Brazil that produces the rarest blocks of this exceptionally precious material.
Blue Sodalite is an igneous rock low in quartz and rich in sodalite. It’s the presence of this mineral that gives the stone such a saturated, even, and intense color.
Brazilian Blue Sodalite offers superior technical characteristics in terms of brilliance, uniformity, and durability. Its unmistakable blue—expressed in multiple nuances—creates powerful vibrations, intense enough to rival the shades of lapis lazuli. It may feature deeper and lighter areas, with rare, clearly defined white or pink veining that enhances its depth. The highest-grade, most emotionally striking blocks display a consistent blue tone, free of grey areas or spots.
Interested in this material? Discover our availability of Blue Sodalite.
Fifth stop: Brazil and Amazzonite
We remain in Brazil to meet another stone with extraordinary tones: Amazzonite.
Its blue-green hue recalls the colors of a tropical ocean, yet its geological “home” is often tied to granitic contexts, where crystals can grow in a particularly visible way.
Amazonite is a variety of microcline, a potassium feldspar. According to several mineralogical sources, its blue-green color is associated with microscopic traces of lead incorporated into the crystal structure. These influence how the stone absorbs and reflects light, giving it that distinctive turquoise appearance.
Interested in this material? Discover our availability of Amazonite.
Sixth stop: Italy and Nero Portoro
We end our journey by returning to Italy—more precisely, to Liguria. Here we encounter a rare, precious material: Nero Portoro.
A black marble enriched with golden veining that creates a wonderfully theatrical contrast.
Its color comes from carbonaceous pigments formed around 180–200 million years ago in a calm, deep marine environment with low oxygen and rich organic matter.
It’s the presence of these substances that gives the stone its black tone. As for the golden veining, literature describes mineral transformation and oxidation processes that “redrew” the rock, creating those distinctive golden traces.
Interested in this material? Discover our availability of Nero Portoro.
Marble’s colors are living traces of the Earth’s evolution: no two slabs are the same, because no two geological stories are identical. That’s what fascinates us—every single time.
We feel like beauty hunters, but above all guardians and interpreters of what the Earth gives us: natural stones that speak of transformation, balance, and adaptation.
We look forward to welcoming you to our showroom to experience this journey in person.
No Comments