Tezontle

Tezontle (Spanish: tezontle) is a porous, highly oxidized, volcanic rock used extensively in construction in Mexico. It is usually reddish in color due to iron oxide.^[1] Tezontle is a well-cemented, agglomeritic and scoriaceous rock.^[2]

One of the Houses of the Mayorazgo de Guerrero showing tezontle walls with cantera accents.

Uses

Construction

Tezontle can be mixed with concrete to form lightweight concrete blocks,^[3] or mixed with cement to create stucco finishes.^[1] Many colonial buildings in Mexico use the reddish cut tezontle on their facades.

Tezontle is a common construction material in the Historic Center of Mexico City as the relatively light-weight stone helps impede a building from sinking into the unstable lake bed on which Mexico City was built.

Other uses

Non-building uses include its inclusion in flower arrangements and botanical gardens, as substrate for aquariums, and for temazcales and ovens.^[4]

Tezontle is often used as the top layer of gravel on unpaved roads in Mexico.

Facades

Many buildings use tezontle to create an aesthetic facade. Here are some examples.

• Church of San Bernardo, Mexico City
• House of Count de la Torre de Cossio
• Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
• Nacional Monte de Piedad
• National Palace (Mexico)