REZA MOLAI SELECTION

Guide to Iranian materials

Information, news, composition, properties and physical analyses of Iranian stone.

THE GEOGRAPHY OF STONE / 01

Iran. The lands of travertine.

31 provinces · 8 locations
Iranian provinces and travertine locationsMaku · Azarshahr · Takab · Mahallat · Nimvar · Natanz · Dehshir · Abarkooh · TabasNorth KhorasanKermanIlamLorestanMarkaziChaharmahal and BakhtiyariKermanshahHamadanQazvinGilanZanjanSemnanIsfahanKohgiluye and Buyer AhmadKurdistanWest AzerbaijanFarsBushehrArdabilMazandaranGolestanRazavi KhorasanSouth KhorasanSistan and BaluchestanTehranQomAlborzEast AzerbaijanYazdHormozganKhuzestanCaspian SeaPersian GulfNMaku1. Maku — Cream and beige travertineAzarshahr2. Azarshahr — Red and coloured travertineTakab3. Takab — Silver and cream travertineMahallat · Nimvar4. Mahallat · Nimvar — Abbasabad · Atashkooh · Hajiabad · Darreh BokhariNatanz5. Natanz — Abyaneh · TarqroodDehshir6. Dehshir — Beige and chocolate travertineAbarkooh7. Abarkooh — Cream travertineTabas8. Tabas — Travertine quarrying area

Towns and quarry districts

  1. 01
    MakuWest Azerbaijan

    Cream and beige travertine

  2. 02
    AzarshahrEast Azerbaijan

    Red and coloured travertine

  3. 03
    TakabWest Azerbaijan

    Silver and cream travertine

  4. 04
    Mahallat · NimvarMarkazi

    Abbasabad · Atashkooh · Hajiabad · Darreh Bokhari

  5. 05
    NatanzIsfahan

    Abyaneh · Tarqrood

  6. 06
    DehshirYazd

    Beige and chocolate travertine

  7. 07
    AbarkoohYazd

    Cream travertine

  8. 08
    TabasSouth Khorasan

    Travertine quarrying area

Provinces of highlighted locations. Points mark reference towns, not quarry entrances. An indicative, non-exhaustive selection.
Map and sources

© OpenStreetMap contributors · Simplified province boundaries

Scientific reading: Shahrood University · Atashkooh · Journal of Mining and Environment · Environmental Earth Sciences · Abbasabad

Travertines

Explore towns and areas of origin, then discover quarry localities and their travertine types.

Mahallat

Dehshir

Maku

Azerbaigian occidentale

Maku

Classic travertine

Maku, Azerbaigian occidentale: one of the areas in our classic travertine guide.

Explore the area ↗

Qorveh–Takab

Abarkooh

Tabas

Explore towns and areas of origin first, then quarry localities and travertine types. One area may include several varieties: colour and grade are checked on each block.

Read about processing and physical data ↗

Curated by Reza Molai · 21 October 2026

Look closely at the material

Two views of the same Silver presentation: notice the rhythm of the layers and distribution of voids. Presentation images do not replace a physical sample.

The same material from another angle. Extraction area to be confirmed.
The same material from another angle. Extraction area to be confirmed.

Pattern and cutting direction

Ask for images of both cutting directions: linear veining and a cloudier appearance may belong to the same material. Agree the desired pattern using a sample.

Voids and filling

Examine how voids are distributed, not just how many are visible. When comparing finishes, specify open-pore or filled stone, including the filling product.

Tone and selection

Compare photographs under similar light, with dry surfaces and several pieces from the batch. A single image cannot represent the full colour variation.

Physical data: a first documented example

Sample S7 “Kerem Hajiabad”, Bameri et al., 2025, Table 2. Density, porosity and absorption: ISRM method; compression: ASTM C170, as reported by the study. [4]

Dry density
2.46 g/cm³
Effective porosity
5.55 %
Water absorption
2.25 %
Compressive strength
50.85 MPa

Values for the studied sample, not regional averages or certification of blocks for sale. No batch-specific test report is available here for the illustrated Silver.

Flexural strength, freeze–thaw, abrasion and slip resistance: batch data unavailable. Required tests depend on the intended application.

Sourcing: what to check

A deposit does not guarantee immediate supply. For each selection, we collect practical information:

  • Actual blocks and date of the availability check.
  • Usable dimensions, integrity and cutting direction.
  • Quantity obtainable with consistent colour and pattern.
  • Preparation, processing and shipping times to be confirmed.

We do not yet publish typical quantities or lead times for these regions: current commercial checks are missing. Individual records show the status of materials already in the catalogue.

Sources and method

Original summaries of published research. Material names in the sources identify research samples, not our suppliers. Images are presentations already published on the site, not geological photographs of these regions.

  1. Bahrami et al. · Salt crystallization in Mahallat travertine · 2023 ↗
  2. Roshanak et al. · Qorveh–Takab petrography and geochemistry · 2018 ↗
  3. Travertine protective coatings and artificial ageing · 2022 ↗
  4. Bameri, Ghasemi & Nasiri Sarvi · Scientific Reports 15, 33450 · 2025 · Table 2 ↗

Blocks on the site

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