The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-27
OSTI.
Something About Its Working and Its Use
In House Decoration.

In House Decoration.
Onyx Is coming into general use for decora-
tive purposes With the formation OF a syndi-
cate to work the Mexican mines and with tho
discovery OF onyx in other places. its uso has
extended until Il Is becoming one OF tho most
fashionable decorations in New York. Onyx
is peculiar formation caused by dripuings
mixed with mineral and earthly subs tances
under heat and pressure. This IS not an exact
geological definition OF IT, but it tells what 1t Is.
Onyx is u5ually,discovered in caves or other
natural openings and in a mineral neiChbor-
hood. Tho most beautiful kind OF onyx Is
formed By various kinds OF minerals running
through it in streaks and ttuts
Onyx is the same improvement over fine
marble thnt marble Is over ordinary stone 1t
also costs as much more. Those are two rea-
sons why people who are putting up fine houses
in this town are beginning to use it. 1t differs
from marble in taxing on Il higher degree OF
polish. in being harder with a greater reiec-
ton. a tirmer grain. moro refined and delicate
tints and prettier streaSs. Streakel marble Is
not popular because 10 is usually not strealed
in way to, add to its decorative effect In
onyx the delicate green fern. reddish and
brown strs9Es, appear beautifully on uu ivory
: onyx is got out in ms large blocks as It can be
quarried. The auarrylng has TO Ue done with
wedges and saws. IA II cannot be blasted or
aFS so ODE decate tRat blast flight spo hoa
sands OF dollars worth. one cave OF onyx was
ruined by tho uss Of powder. The man who
owned the cave started 10 get out the onyx by
the slow process Of saws and wedges. lie got
out several car loads. whoa tho thought struck
him that he G 'uld take all the onyx out OF tho
cave Mt one blast. SO he Put his mon to work
and drilled around tho cave, arranging his
blast so that he would have $4,000 or SJO,pOU
worth Of onyx 10 be shipped at once. Tho drill
holes were charged and tho blast was OK
rloded. None OF the onyx was, III FER use OK
not n sound bit four ieet long in the cave This
taught the other onyx miners lesson and no
shocks and blasts or detoHatious are allowed
10 the cave or in the neghborhood forf fear that
the onyx may be cracked or that some small
cracks may be enlarged.
ONYX Ia worth in the rough from 3 to SD per
Ponds on the demand and tho length and shape
OF the block got out as well as the appearance
OF tho ONYX. The market for onyx Is some
less regular. A man who buys block OF onyx
takes IL TO some extent on speculation. Ilo
does pot know how It will saw and polish.
There may bn cracks inside OF II which no does
not see, and tho grain and streaks on the out
side may not be carried through,
The onyx In its rough state looks like other
staactites and stal agmites. though II might be
taken for marble by any one not in the busl-
moss II is worked much as marble Is. by saw
ing and polishing except that more care has
10 be exercised and that tho, polishing is more
difficult. When Il Is worked IN It Will sell for
81 TO s. square foot, according 10 its appear
ance and size.
some dealers make onyx up in mantels but
even though an ONYX mantel ls costly, the deal
they say that It yuIGarizes the onyx AMI will
end IN cheapening il. Onyx Is beautiful for
tables EmirTJ2rs ana naEes there y a,e only
when the now syndicate begins shipping here
steadily ONYX will DO pushed II Is No more
rare now than the finer marble used TO be.