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Travertine Rock



Definition

Definition
Travertine is a mineral consisting of layered calcium carbonate formed by deposition from spring waters

History

Origin
Italy

Discoverer
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Etymology
From Italian travertino a kind of building stone, from Tiburs, adjective from Tibur (Tivoli), in Italy

Class
Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group
-

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Banded

Color
Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Red, White, Yellow

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Fibrous

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Paper Industry, Pottery

Types

Types
Thermal Travertine and Tufa

Features
Stalactites and stalagmites are formed from this rock, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
Colosseum in Rome, Italy, Sacré Coeur in Paris, France, Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Present

Formation

Formation
Travertine is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock which then undergo sedimentation. They are then subjected to high temperature and pressure hence forming travertine rock.

Composition

Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz

Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO, Oxygen

Transformation

Metamorphism
No

Types of Metamorphism
-

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
3-4

Grain Size
Fine Grained

Fracture
Splintery

Streak
White

Porosity
Highly Porous

Luster
Dull to Pearly

Compressive Strength
80.00 N/mm2 33

Cleavage
-

Toughness
1

Specific Gravity
1.68

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.71 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
1.09 kJ/Kg K 8

Resistance
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
China, Russia

Africa
-

Europe
Austria, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
-

Definition >>
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Sedimentary Rocks

Information about Travertine

Rocks are naturally occurring solids which are composed of minerals & have been used by humans since ages. From Stone Age, rocks are used for various purposes. Also, the metals and minerals found in rock play an important role in our life. Get to know all the Travertine Uses. We have provided you with all information about Travertine rock here. Travertine is a mineral consisting of layered calcium carbonate formed by deposition from spring waters. Travertine is available in beige, black, blue, brown, grey, red, white, yellow colors. The streak of a rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Travertine is white. Get to know more about Travertine rock and characteristics of Travertine rock in the next sections.

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