Definition
Appinite is an igneous rock in which the crystals are so fine grained that individual minerals cannot be easily distinguished
  
Porphyry is a reddish-brown to purple igneous rock containing large phenocrysts of various minerals embedded in a fine-grained matrix
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
Egypt
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From the variety of Lamprophyre Greek lampros bright and shining + porphureos purple
  
From Old French porfire, from Italian porfiro and in some cases directly from Latin porphyrites
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Plutonic
  
Plutonic
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Porphyritic
  
Porphyritic
  
Color
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Grey
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Red, Rust, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated
  
Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Whetstones
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
Construction Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner
  
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry
  
Types
Not Available
  
Rhomb Porphyry
  
Features
Always found as volcanic pipes over deep continental crust, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock, Surfaces are often shiny
  
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Surfaces are often shiny
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
The formation of Appinite takes place deep beneath the Earth’s surface at around 150 to 450 kms, and are erupted rapidly and violently.
  
Porphyry is formed in two stages: the magma cools slowly deep within the crust or the magma is cools rapidly as it erupts from a volcano, creating small grains that are usually invisible to naked eye.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Amphibole, Carbonate, Garnet, Micas, Olivine, Phlogopite, Pyroxene
  
Biotite, Chert, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Quartz, Silica
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Not Registered
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5-6
  
6-7
  
Grain Size
Fine to Coarse Grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Irregular
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Very Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Dull
  
Cleavage
Conchoidal
  
Imperfect
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
1.7
  
Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87
  
2.5-4
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
2.95-2.96 g/cm3
  
2.5-2.52 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Russia
  
China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
  
Africa
Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa
  
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa
  
Europe
England, Hungary, Iceland, United Kingdom
  
Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland
  
Others
Antarctica, Greenland
  
Greenland
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, USA
  
South America
Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador
  
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia