Marble, travertine, or limestone that is honed has a matte or satin finish, rather than a high reflective polish. This is achieved at the factory by stopping just short of the last stage of polishing. Some fabricators have special equipment and can hone marble in their shops by removing the factory polish. One feature of honed marble is that it doesn't show etching as readily, or wear patterns on floors. It is preferred by some because it has a less formal, softer appearance than polished stone.
Etching happens when acid in some form comes in contact with a polished marble or limestone surface.
This causes a chemical reaction which removes the polish, or roughens the surface of honed marble or limestone. Never use powdered cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your stone. You should always use sealers and cleaning products designed specifically for natural stone. Go to Stone Maintenance. Limestone is sedimentary rock consisting mostly of organic material such as skeletons and shells of marine creatures and sediments.