Travertine
is perhaps the most desired, most coveted, most sought
after type of tile stone available to a consumer in the
South Orange County area. People are constantly
using it for custom kitchen and bathroom renovations to
an unparalleled degree. Personally, I am fascinated
by it. It’s incredible to watch the evolution
of a piece of unaltered travertine in it’s natural
state, make the evolution into the smooth, multi-textured
tile stone that is used most commonly on the floors of
some of the most gorgeous custom kitchens and bathrooms
here in South Orange County. Here’s a little
background information on travertine for those of you who
are just as curious as I am!
Travertine is a sedimentary
rock. It is a natural chemical precipitate of carbonate
minerals; typically Aragonite,
but often recrystallized to or primarily Calcite.
Basically, calcium
carbonate is deposited from the water of mineral
springs or rivulets saturated with calcium
bicarbonate. The spring water can either be hot,
warm or cold. The amount of deposits may increase with
the water's temperature or when biotic
material accelerates the precipitation. The ornate
columns of travertine in caves is one example of an inorganic
chemical sedimentary rock.
When carbon dioxide-rich water percolates through rocks
in limestone areas,
the water dissolves the limestone (typical karst process)
and becomes saturated with it. When the environment the
water runs through changes significantly (e.g. drop in
pressure and/or change in temperature) this causes the
water to release the carbon dioxide as gas, much like fizzy
drinks. The calcium carbonate then recrystallizes; small
debris, scrub and living biotic material such as moss, algae,
and cyanobacteria are
encrusted. The biotic material may survive and continue
growing on top. Rich deposits of aged, dried and hardened
travertine were mined by the Romans. The rock typically
remains quite porous, with numerous cavities. When exceptionally
porous, it is known as calcareous tuff[citation
needed] (German: Kalktuff).
When pure and fine, travertine is white, but often is brown
to yellow due to impurities (other than carbonate minerals).
Travertine forming at Jupiter Terrace, Fountain Geyser
Pool, Yellowstone
National Park. Photo by Ansel
Adams, 1941
Extensive deposits exist at Tivoli,
Italy, near Rome.
In fact, travertine derives its name from this town. Tivoli
was known as Tibur in ancient Roman times. The ancient
name for the stone was lapis tiburtinus, meaning
tibur stone, which has been corrupted to travertine.
Detailed studies of the Tivoli travertine deposits revealed
diurnal and annual rhythmic banding and laminae which have
potential use in geochronology [1].
In Central
Europe's last postglacial palaeoclimatic optimum (Atlantic
Period, 8000-5000 B.C.), huge "Calcareous Tuff" of
karst spring deposits formed. Important geotopes are
found at the Swabian
Alb, mainly in valleys at the foremost northwest ridge
of the cuesta,
in many valleys of the eroded periphery of the karstic Franconian
Jura, at the northern Alpine
foothills, and the northern Karst Alps. On a smaller
scale these karst processes are still working. Travertine
was a very important building material for housing and
representative buildings since the Middle
Ages.
Travertine has formed 16 huge, natural dams in a valley
in Croatia known as Plitvice
Lakes National Park. The travertine clings to moss
and rocks in the water, and has built up over several millennia
to form waterfalls up to 70 m in height.[2]
Other beautiful cascades of natural lakes formed behind
travertine dams can be seen in Band-i-Amir (Afghanistan), HuangLong
Valley (Sichuan, China), Semuc
Champey (Guatemala),
and Pamukkale (Turkey).
Many geyser fields also have colorful travertine deposits.
Travertine is often used as a building
material. The largest building in the world constructed
mostly of travertine is the Colosseum in Rome.
Other notable buildings using travertine extensively
include the Sacré-Cœur Basilica
in Paris and
the Getty
Center in Los Angeles, California. The travertine
used in the construction was imported from Tivoli. The
website of the Getty Center contains more
information about the use of travertine in its construction,
including some videos of travertine being quarried and
cut for use. The stone is most widely used in Italy,
Greece and Turkey.
Travertine is one of several natural stones that are used
for paving patios and garden paths. It is sometimes known
as travertine limestone, sometimes as travertine marble;
these are the same stone, even though it is neither limestone nor marble.
The stone is characterized by pitted holes and troughs
in its surface. Although these troughs occur naturally,
they suggest to some eyes that considerable wear and tear
has occurred over many years. Some installers use a grout
to fill these holes, whereas others leave them open — travertine
can even be purchased "filled" or "unfilled." It
can be effectively polished to a smooth, shiny finish and
comes in a variety of colors from grey to coral-red. Travertine
is most commonly available in tile sizes
for floor installations.
Travertine is one of the most frequently used stones in modern
architecture, and is commonly seen as façade
material, wall cladding, and flooring. Architect Welton
Becket was one of the most frequent users of travertine,
incorporating it extensively into many if not most of his
projects. The entire first floor of the Becket-designed UCLA
Medical Center has thick travertine walls.
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