What is the difference between sandstone, limestone, and travertine?
Sandstone is made of sand while limestone and travertine are made of lime. Limestone and Travertine are a lot alike at their core but read on to learn about what sets them apart. My article ‘Countertop Talks Part 4’ talks about the origins of limestone and marble which I highly recommend reading to get familiar with what limestone is and how it forms. Understanding how these different rocks form in nature and having a little knowledge of their properties makes us appreciate the forces of nature and also make the right choices for our homes and living spaces.
The Origins of Rocks
If you missed my earlier post ‘Countertop Talks Part 2’ or just need a refresher on the origins of rocks, here it is.
On a very high level, there are three types of rocks namely Igneous rocks, Sedimentary rocks, and Metamorphic rocks.
Igneous rocks are formed from cooled magma either on land or in underwater magma chambers under extreme conditions of heat and pressure.
Sedimentary rocks on the other hand form through the process of sedimentation which involves the deposition and compacting of sand, clay, and other minerals over time. This process can happen on land, meaning on beaches, deserts, or even on rivers and ocean floors.
Finally, we have Metamorphic rocks which as the name suggests form through the metamorphosis of stone! This process of metamorphosis takes millions of years and occurs under extreme conditions of heat and pressure.
If you would like to geek out and learn a little more about these different types of rocks, here is an article written by a Geologist: Geology of Natural Stone
What type of rock is travertine?
Travertine is a sedimentary rock. There are three essential components that aid in the formation of travertine – limestone, hot water, and hot springs or geysers. Yes, limestone is an essential precursor for travertine formation but, unlike marble, limestone does not transform into travertine.
Before we jump into the formation of travertine, let us quickly recap the limestone formation. Limestone is a sedimentary rock formed by the compression of shells, fossils, corals, plankton, and/or lime mud – all of which are composed of Calcite or Calcium Carbonate in shallow, warm waters. Given that limestone is formed in shallow waters, and under less strenuous conditions of heat and pressure, the minerals in the stone are not as strongly bound, making it porous.
How does travertine form?
In some parts of the world, limestone formations get buried in the earth’s mantle. When hot groundwater encounters these limestone deposits, it dissolves the stone and carries the minerals AKA calcite or calcium carbonate with it to the surface.
When this hot water eventually surfaces in the form of hot springs or geysers, it brings and deposits the minerals on the surface which we see in the form of multi-color pools in the picture below. When this process continues for thousands of years or until the geysers dry out, we are left with massive deposits of travertine like we can see at Yellowstone National Park in the picture above.
Once the geysers or hot water springs dry out, the bacteria and other organisms eventually die out leaving cavities in the rock. This is where Travertine gets its trademark texture with the little dents.
Is travertine worth the trouble?
Travertine’s porous and weakly bound calcite structure leaves it susceptible to etching, and chipping, and is highly absorbent to liquids making it unsuitable for kitchens. But the good news is that travertine can be used as flooring, pool surround, tile, and even as tabletops once the cavities in the stone are filled and sealed to make the stone less porous. I personally love the texture and character of travertine and prefer to leave the cavities as is to keep the aesthetic value of the stone.
That being said, like other stones the strength of travertine also varies and it can make for a fantastic building material. Do not believe it? Check out the Colosseum in Italy! 😉
Have more questions? Leave a comment below or hit me up! I love talking about stones and countertops. :)
Check out my other posts on the origins of different stones like part 2 about Granite, part 3 about Quartzite, part 4 about Marble, part 5 on Onyx, and part 7 on Soapstone. Don't forget to subscribe to my Newsletter at the bottom of the page to be notified when new posts are published. You can also follow On my Lanai on Pinterest and Instagram to be notified of new posts.
Until next time!
U
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