Many people come across the term “travertine” while looking at tile and paver options for their next home improvement project. If you’ve seen the term but weren’t exactly sure what travertine is, you’ve come to the right place!

Travertine is a type of limestone that has been deposited by a mineral spring, which is what’s responsible for its smooth finish and coloring. Travertine is a 100% natural rock formation and is not manufactured from a composite mixture.

Travertine has a long, rich history as a building material, and was used centuries ago in Ancient Rome. Many famous structures, including the Colosseum in Rome and Ephesus in Turkey, were made using travertine stone – a testament to travertine’s long-lasting abilities.

Why is travertine different colors?

Travertine comes in a variety of colors and shades – in fact, just about every travertine tile or paver features coloring that is slightly unique. This is because it is a sedimentary stone, which means that it absorbs coloring from nearby minerals, such as iron ore. When iron deposits are located near travertine deposits, the iron oxide deposits its coloring into the travertine, causing these slight and often stunning variations.

Many other mineral deposits can contribute to travertine’s coloring as well. Because of this, travertine can often be found in a variety of shades, from the lightest ivory and darker walnut shades, to even dark browns and deep reds.