Patina (/ptn/ or /ptin/) is a thin layer that variously forms on the surface

of stone; on copper, bronze and similar metals (tarnish produced by oxidation or other
chemical processes);[1] on wooden furniture (sheen produced by age, wear, and
polishing); or any such acquired change of a surface through age and exposure.
Patinas can provide a protective covering to materials that would otherwise be damaged
by corrosion or weathering. They may also be aesthetically appealing.
On metal, patina is a coating of various chemical compounds such
as oxides, carbonates, sulfides, or sulfates formed on the surface during exposure to
atmospheric elements (oxygen, rain, acid rain, carbon dioxide, sulfur-bearing
compounds), a common example of which is rust which forms on iron or steel when
exposed to oxygen. Patina also refers to accumulated changes in surface texture and
colour that result from normal use of an object such as a coin or a piece of furniture over
time.[2]
Archaeologists also use the term "patina" to refer to a corticated layer that develops
over time that is due to a range of complex factors on flint tools and ancient stone
monuments.[1] This has led stone tool analysts in recent times to generally prefer the
term "cortification" as a better term to describe the process than "patination".[3]
In geology and geomorphology, the term "patina" is used to refer to discolored film or
thin outer layer produced either on or within the surface of a rock or other material by
either the development of a weathering rind within the surface of a rock, the formation
of desert varnish on the surface of a rock, or combination of both. It also refers to
development as the result of weathering of a case-hardened layer, called "cortex" by
geologists, within the surface of either a flint or chert nodule.[4][5]

refrence
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patina