What is porphyry?
Porphyry is a Greek term that is translated as purple. In the scientific sense, it concerns a number of igneous rocks with built -in crystals that give rocks of different types of shiny and shimmering appearance. The Romans appreciated certain types of this rock, especially brownish feeding a rock with large crystals, composed of plagiolas minerals. Given that this color and anything purple was associated with royal rank, you can see numerous examples of art and architecture in the carvings of sculptures, columns and various fountains made from brownish feldspar, especially in plagioclase crystals.
Not only the Roman Empire, but also the Byzantine Empire, significantly used the forms of Porphyra in sculpture. Examples of its use can be found in some very well -known places, such as Hagia Sophia in Turkey, built during the Golden Age of the Byzantine Empire. Smaller pieces of porphyra can be used in jewelry. The tradition of using these beautiful igneous rocks in sculptures today, with many large and impressive buildings, especially before 19.century in Europe, they use porphyry in different ways. The rich color and spark of different types of this rock are treatment when used in large quantities in carvings, statues or columns.
igneous rocks are made of magma that has cooled and can come in many forms. In the case of porphyria, crystals consist of a rock undergoing two cooling phases. As a magma, the rock is slowly cooling down under the Earth's bark for the first time. This slow cooling causes large crystals to form. When it moves towards the upper bark, the rock cools faster, or it can be drained from the volcanoes and creates the separation of minerals. Fast cooling in the second half of this process causes small crystals that are not visible to the naked eye. The result, depending on the types of rocks and minerals in magma, is porphyry in the amount of colors.
Much of the Roman and Byzantine Empire of Purple Porphyry PochHe was out of the only Egyptian quarry. Today you will find this igneous rock at virtually any place where there was once a strong volcanic activity. Interestingly, the place was lost for many years after about the 7th century, but was rediscovered in 1823 after many years of search. Especially Emperor Napoleon wanted to find the original location of the quarry to gain his wealth for new buildings in France, but his search was futile.
may be a bit confusing when geologists discuss porphyra because they can refer to different types of igneous rocks or the texture of certain rocks. Rocks that have clearly visible large crystals contrast with much smaller crystals, are called porphyrytar in the texture. Examples of porphyrytical rocks include granite, feldspar and basalt