Teos Fire (also Teos Atesi, Teos Black, Black Fire Marble or Teos Fire Marble) is a dramatically composed Turkish building limestone from the Teos/Seferihisar quarrying area in the province of Izmir, with a deep black ground effect, dramatic fiery red to burgundy brecciated-clastic zones and delicately branching white calcite vein courses. An exceptionally dense mineral structure (0.05 % water absorption) — used for prestige wall claddings, accent walls, bar back walls, fireplace surrounds and refined interior fit-outs with a dramatic, fiery black-and-red statement look in the ancient Teos tradition.
Petrographically a dense, compact marble (a brecciated carbonate lithosome) from the Teos/Seferihisar quarry district in the province of Izmir on the Turkish Aegean coast (DNSA #5864 TEOS ATESI). The black ground colour derives from organic substances, the red brecciated areas from iron-oxide mineralisations, the white veins from secondary calcitic cementation of tectonic fracture zones.
Other trade names: Nero Africano, RO-02-281, Teos Atesi, Teos Black, Teos Fire Marble
About Teos Fire
Teos Fire comes from the tradition-rich Teos/Seferihisar quarrying area in the province of Izmir on the Turkish Aegean coast — a region whose name goes back to the ancient Greek city of Teos, whose ruins lie to this day in the immediate vicinity of the modern quarries. In classical antiquity, Teos was a significant Ionian city and a place of pilgrimage for Dionysus, which gives the dimension stone a remarkable background in cultural history. The Turkish trade name “Teos Atesi” — “atesi” means “fire” in Turkish — was adopted by the international market as “Teos Fire” and describes the dramatic appearance of the stone with visual precision: deep black zones with fiery red to burgundy brecciated inclusions that look like embers in dark coal. The DNSA classification (#5864) lists the material as TEOS ATESI with precise technical values.
Geologically it is a dense, compact marble (a brecciated carbonate lithosome) that formed through sedimentation in a former shelf sea and was transformed by tectonic stress during Alpine mountain building into a characteristically brecciated structure. The black ground tone results from incorporated organic substances, fine pyrite portions and carbon-bearing sediment components — typical of carbonate sediments deposited under low-oxygen conditions. The fiery red to burgundy brecciated zones arise from iron oxide mineralisations that were introduced into the rock matrix in locally limited zones during diagenetic alteration or through tectonic brecciation. The delicately branching white calcite vein courses arose through secondary calcitic mineralisations that cemented fracture zones and micro-cracks during and after the brecciation. This complex mineralisation history produces the unique three-component slab picture of black, red and white.
Visually, Teos Fire is marked by an exceptionally theatrical, almost volcanically fiery material signature that ranks among the most dramatic dimension stones of Turkey. Across a deep black to anthracite ground tone spread powerful fiery red to burgundy brecciated-clastic zones, run through by a finely branching network of white calcite veins. The red-brown zones appear like petrified embers or lava fragments in a mantle of dark coal — a quality that aptly lives up to the marketing name “Fire” / “Atesi”. The high-contrast black-red-white look makes every square metre unique, with an exceptional visual depth and drama. With bookmatched laying — mirror-image laying of adjacent slabs — particularly impressive, almost surreal symmetrical large-scale patterns emerge with the full dramatic effect of the three-colour composition.
Technically, Teos Fire is among the highest-quality dense Turkish carbonate rocks, with documented DNSA values (#5864): bulk density 2,800 kg/m³, compressive strength 80.6 MPa (85.8 MPa after freeze-thaw cycles, which indicates good freeze-thaw resistance), flexural strength 16.7 MPa, water absorption of only 0.05 % (exceptionally low), porosity 0.2 % by volume (extremely low), modulus of elasticity 88 GPa. The exceptionally low water absorption and the low porosity classify Teos Fire as an extremely dense, compact limestone — values markedly above the level of most Mediterranean limestones, placing the stone technically in a leading position. Like all carbonate rocks, Teos Fire too is acid-sensitive and reacts to citric acid, vinegar or acidic cleaners with matt etching — a property that stands out with particular visual clarity on the black-red-white material surface.
In interior fit-out, Teos Fire is a statement material for the highest design ambitions where a dramatic, fiery material effect is wanted. Classic applications are large-area wall claddings in hotel lobbies and entrance areas, bar back walls and counter fronts, fireplace surrounds with a dramatic effect, accent walls in residential and commercial spaces, table and console tops as statement furniture as well as free-standing wall panels in prestige rooms. The powerfully dramatic black-red-white look harmonises particularly well with warm timber fittings in walnut, mahogany or oak, with brass, bronze and gold accents, with restrained white and with muted, warm earth tones. On account of the dense material structure and the low water absorption, Teos Fire is also suitable for demanding floor areas with high footfall — it is more robust than most other Mediterranean limestones. Outdoors, thanks to its low water absorption and plausible freeze-thaw resistance, the stone can be used for façade claddings and structurally protected exterior applications — polished surfaces, however, are not stable in the long term in openly weathered exterior locations.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
27 slabs in stock · plus 2 blocks
Thicknesses: 2 & 3 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: Slabs
Guide values for the stone type, taken from manufacturer and test reports. Natural stone is a natural product — individual batches and slabs can differ. For critical applications, request slab-specific test data.
Teos Fire is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.
Polished
Polishing is the most classic finish for marble and limestone — a glossy surface with the highest possible colour intensity and a pronounced depth to the veining. Depending on the mineral composition, the effect can be matte-gloss in places. Acid-sensitive — wine, lemon and vinegar leave etch marks after prolonged contact.
Care & fabrication
As a compact, dense marble, Teos Fire is acid-sensitive, but thanks to its exceptionally low water absorption of only 0.05 % it is one of the most robust representatives of its material class. Indoors, use exclusively warm water with a pH-neutral stone cleaning product for daily cleaning — acidic household cleaners, vinegar, citric acid descalers or other acidic substances cause matt-etched spots which become particularly clear visually on the polished black-red-white surface and can only be reversed by professional re-polishing. Take up spilled acidic liquids immediately with clear water — the extremely low water absorption gives Teos Fire exceptionally much reaction time compared with other limestones. A professional impregnation after laying and then every 2 to 3 years is recommended indoors — it reduces the take-up of pigments and protects the material surface. On the black ground colour, water drops and cleaning streaks are visually clearly apparent, which is why clean, lint-free cloth material should be used when wiping. On bar counters and table tops, coasters should be used for glasses with acidic drinks. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.
Frequently asked questions
What does the designation “Teos Fire” / “Teos Atesi” mean?
“Teos” refers to the ancient Greek city of Teos in what is today the province of Izmir on the Turkish Aegean coast, whose ruins lie in the immediate vicinity of the modern quarries. In classical antiquity, Teos was a significant Ionian city and a place of pilgrimage for Dionysus. “Atesi” means “fire” in Turkish — the designation describes with visual precision the dramatic appearance of the stone with its fiery red to burgundy brecciated zones that look like embers in dark coal. “Teos Fire” is the international English translation established in the western stone trade.
What are the red brecciated zones in the slab picture?
The fiery red to burgundy brecciated-clastic zones are the essential feature of Teos Fire. They arise from iron oxide mineralisations that were introduced into the rock matrix in locally limited zones during diagenetic alteration or through tectonic brecciation. The delicately branching white calcite vein courses arose through secondary calcitic mineralisations that cemented fracture zones and micro-cracks during and after the brecciation. This complex mineralisation history produces the unique three-component slab picture of black, red and white.
How technically robust is Teos Fire?
Teos Fire is exceptionally robust technically for a marble. The DNSA-documented values (bulk density 2,800 kg/m³, compressive strength 80.6 MPa with 85.8 MPa after freeze-thaw cycles, flexural strength 16.7 MPa, water absorption only 0.05 %, porosity only 0.2 % by volume) classify it as an extremely dense, compact limestone whose mechanical properties lie markedly above the level of most Mediterranean building limestones. The exceptionally low water absorption and porosity make the stone more robust against the take-up of pigment and against water-drop rings than typical limestones.
Is Teos Fire suitable for bookmatched laying?
Outstandingly so. With mirror-image laying of adjacent slabs, the dramatic, high-contrast black-red-white structures create particularly impressive, almost surreal symmetrical large-scale patterns — bookmatched laying makes Teos Fire one of the most spectacular statement materials for backlit wall claddings, bar back walls and prestige accent walls in interior architecture of the highest order. The layout and slab selection should be matched up before laying.
Is Teos Fire suitable for kitchen worktops?
With clear restrictions. The acid sensitivity towards lemon juice, vinegar, wine and cola leads to matt-etched spots that become particularly clear on the black-red-white material surface. The exceptionally low water absorption of 0.05 % makes Teos Fire mechanically markedly more robust than most Mediterranean limestones. In very carefully maintained designer kitchens with an explicit wish for a dramatic, fiery material look, in which the natural formation of patina is accepted as a design value, use is possible; for intensively used family kitchens we recommend acid-insensitive hard rocks.
Is Teos Fire suitable for exterior applications?
With reservations. The low water absorption of 0.05 % and the freeze-thaw resistance documented in DNSA tests (compressive strength after freeze-thaw cycles 85.8 MPa, even slightly higher than the initial value) qualify Teos Fire technically for demanding exterior applications such as façade claddings, plinth details and structurally protected stairs. Polished surfaces, however, are not stable in the long term in openly weathered exterior locations; a matt, textured surface finish is to be preferred there. For openly weathered horizontal paving with de-icing salt loading, acid-insensitive hard rocks are the more robust alternative.
What does Teos Fire cost?
The price depends on the batch, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — with natural stone there is no serious flat rate per square metre. Business customers see prices once their B2B account is activated; private customers receive a complete quote through a fabricator near them.
