Porphyry, is a natural stone, widely used and known since ancient times for its peculiar characteristics of high resistance to impact and wear and low maintenance.

The name porphyry was nally used to indicate a rock extracted in Egypt, known in ancent times as Imperial Red Porphyry or Ancient Red Porphyry. It was extracted i the Egyptian desert nthe mountain Jebel Dhoka (up to 500 AD.) and It was used t bul columns, vases, sarcophagus,
busts etc.

The Romans exploited intensely the quarries, using thousands of workers: the large number of works extended al over the Empire, This stone has ahvays had a eat symbolic value: the emperors, personiying divinity, ved surrounded by porphyry, they were born in rooms clacded with
porphyry which existed only in the palace of power) and many Roman emperors were even buried in sarcophagi of porphyry.

Availabilty and grest versatility ofits natural quarry face has played an essential role on is broad range of applications, this stone has been quarried in every continent

for domestic and industrial use through the centuries.

Porphyry Stona is a particular category of effusive volcanic rock, it presents a natural subdivision into vertical paralel slabs (Thickness may vary from 10mm to
half a meter) and its mad of a fine-grained microcrystalline vitreous groundmass (65%) , small 2-4 mm manly quartz crystals (30-35%) and Feldspar.

‘Some of the thicker and more renowned formations of closaly fractured ignimbrites are to be found in laly, Argentina and Mexico. Less thick, fractured formations are located In Australia, Japan, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Spain and Groscs

The high compression breaking point, the high resistance to chemical agents and high sidinglrolling fiction make of porphyry a very versatile and resourceful material which aside from its technical advantages offers an extensive range of chromatic options supported by limitiess pattern solutions.