PORPHYRY POLISHED SLABS

Porphyry is not a mineral but rather a type of igneous rock characterized by a distinct texture. It features large, well-formed crystals—typically of quartz, feldspar, or other minerals—embedded in a fine-grained or glassy matrix. This two-stage cooling process, where magma cools slowly underground before erupting and cooling rapidly at the surface, gives porphyry its signature "spotted" or "salt-and-pepper" appearance.

Porphyry rocks are geologically significant, especially as hosts for major ore deposits. Copper, molybdenum, and gold are often mined from porphyry deposits, which form when mineral-rich fluids concentrate in fractures around large igneous intrusions. These deposits are among the most important sources of these metals worldwide. Historically, porphyry with a rich purple hue was prized by ancient civilizations for use in sculpture and imperial architecture, particularly in Egypt and Rome.