Sahara Black

Über Sahara Black

Sahara Black — also known as Noir Aziza, Sahara Noir, Nero Tunis, Nero Dorato, and Black Sahara — is a black Paleozoic limestone quarried in the Djebel Aziz mountains near El Fahs, Zaghwan Governorate, Tunisia. The stone has a deep black background with veining in gold, brown, and occasional white tones. DNSA (Stein 5013, NOIR AZIZA) provides the authoritative technical data: density 2720 kg/m³, compressive strength 92 MPa, flexural strength 12 MPa, WA 0.92%. Despite being sold commercially as 'marble', the stone is petrographically a limestone. DNSA notes: polished surface is not durable outdoors; acid-sensitive (carbonate/limestone); suitable as floor covering but does not reach the abrasion resistance of hard rocks. SC sources (Sahara Noir Marble, Noir Aziza Marble) corroborate the Tunisian origin and report compressive strength around 72 MPa — somewhat lower than DNSA's 92 MPa. The DNSA figure is preferred. WA 0.92% indicates moderate porosity — sealing recommended for wet environments.