2515.12.20.00 - Travertine

This HTS category, 2515.12.20.00, specifically classifies travertine that has been roughly trimmed or merely cut into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape. Travertine is a type of limestone deposited by mineral springs, characterized by its porous texture and often layered appearance. The crucial criterion for inclusion here is that the material, while processed from its natural state, remains in basic geometric forms, indicating it is prepared for further fabrication into building or monumental works but has not yet undergone shaping or finishing for specific decorative or structural purposes.

This classification is distinct from its sibling category, 2515.12.10.00, which covers marble. While both are calcareous stones used for monumental or building purposes and fall under the parent heading of monumental or building stone with an apparent specific gravity of 2.5 or more, travertine is a distinct geological formation. Marble is typically formed from recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite, and often exhibits veining or banding. Travertine, on the other hand, is a sedimentary rock. The distinction hinges on the material's origin, formation, and inherent physical characteristics, even when presented in similar processed forms.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS, there are no further subcategories. Classification under 2515.12.20.00 is therefore definitive for travertine that meets the described physical state and material composition, without further subdivision. Its classification signifies that the product has undergone initial processing to facilitate trade and further use in construction or decorative applications, differentiating it from rougher, unworked stone or more finished ornamental articles.