So I had this big cab that I thought was onyx and I recently decided I wanted to carve it for a showpiece I’m working on. It went really well! Too well. I’m convinced it is some manmade material but I don’t know what it would be called. I saw something about synthetic onyx being made with polymer and glass? This definitely left dust similar to epoxy and I was able to do most of the work dry. It’s about the same hardness as steel and would only scratch if I forced my sharpest point into it. Reminds me of some of the backing I’ve seen on turquoise. Anyway, does anyone know what this stuff is called?
Does it have a chemical smell when you snad or grind it? Stones that have been stabilized do…Rob
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Not anything notable. That was another thing that threw me off especially doing so much of the work dry. Onyx would eventually give off that spark smell.
The carving looks way cool. I had a funny thought: Since onyx is fairly abundant and cheap, I find it sort of odd that “someone” is manufacturing a synthetic version…
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I shared this thought hahaha. Glass is very common as a substitute onyx as well. But I have never seen this kind of stuff before. It even fracture surprisingly similar to actual onyx, just grainier compared to the waxy look of onyx. And thank you 
I’m calling the piece Karma Carnelian so I attempted to carve a never ending knot.
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is that a Boy George reference???!! 
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I saw the opportunity, and I’m going for it hahahaha
The picture looks like basalt or even jet. But I don’t think it would look like epoxy when you carve it. And jet could easily be scratched. If it is what is sometimes used as backing for turquoise, maybe liquid steel.
Very nice carving !
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Thank you. At this point, I really feel like it is a fully intentional synthetic onyx. I found one website that seems to be selling various cabs of a synthetic onyx, claiming they are reconstructed stones made from silicone, mineral compounds, and resin. It’s been fun to work though, and my piece is coming together nicely, I just never would have guessed onyx would be a stone worth making so many imitations of.
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