Persian travertine
Persian travertine is a freshwater limestone that was formed during the Pleistocene 1.7 million years ago. This travertine is mined in northwestern Iran in the province of East Azerbaijan , near the small village Dehkhvāregān ( alternative name Azar Shar ), about 50 kilometers northwest of the city of Maragheh .
Names
This travertine is used and exported in Iran. In international trade, this travertine is called Persian Red , Rosso Persian , Azarshar Red , Travertino Soraya or Tabriz Red . In addition, there are also type designations according to other colors such as yellow, onyx, etc.
Geology and formation
This freshwater stone was created from calcium carbonate escaping water from calcareous springs. CO 2 was withdrawn from the water by aquatic plants , as a result of which lime was precipitated and deposited in layers. Lime encrusted the plants, which died. This resulted in numerous pores being created in this rock. Hematite was stored and the red pigmentation typical of this natural stone was created. The clearly recognizable banding of this natural stone caused periodic limescale deposits.
Rock description
Different shades of color occur in the deposit of this travertine. They range from crimson, yellow, brown to white striped. The most popular are the bright red types. The different colors in this rock cause varying levels of iron minerals.
All rock types of this travertine show a pronounced banding when they are sawn against the bearing and used as natural stone.
use
Persian travertine is a building block that is frequently used in Iran to this day. It is of great cultural and historical importance in this region.
Today the red stone type is seldom used in Germany, the other types hardly found their way into the European natural stone market. The polished Persian travertine is mainly used in interior design as flooring, wall cladding, table tops and washbasins. Outside it is suitable for facade panels. Every now and then tombs and sculptures are created from this travertine.
Since Persian travertine has a low effective porosity, it is frost-resistant. Travertines are not resistant to chemical aggressions, which is why polishing in outdoor areas wears off over time. Façade panels are slightly weathered on the surface outside, but this in no way affects the statically required strength. In the construction industry these days, this travertine is either trowelled or used with open pores.