Stone type prefix: P

Geological Outline

Porphyry is a volcanic rock
which, though igneous like
granite, has not been subjected
to the same pressure and has
cooled more slowly.
Traditionally a cohabitant
of gold ore bearing strata, it has
a wide range of mineral
inclusion and usually one of
these (quartz, feldspar etc.) is of
a coarser, larger nature than the
other ingredients. It is usually
stratified and often won by
cleaving, as with sandstone.

Traditional Uses

Porphyry, in its rare purple form, was favoured by Roman emperors for the decoration of palaces and public buildings. Modern usage lies in the public realm for paving, setts, cobbles and small features. There is a range of warm tones, from red through to beige and yellow and the stone is resistant to large variations in temperature with good anti slip properties.

Stone type code

Stone

Colour

Available finishes

PGWR

Porphyry

Red

DS, T, F, P, RS, RA

PYRP

Porphyry

Purple

DS, T, F, P, RS, RA

PYBG

Porphyry

Green/Black

DS, T, F, P, RS, RA

PMRM

Porphyry

Red/Brown

RA, RS

PMRM

Porphyry

Grey

RA, RS