Definition
Porphyry is a reddish-brown to purple igneous rock containing large phenocrysts of various minerals embedded in a fine-grained matrix
  
A hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle is called as serpentinization, a group of minerals is formed by serpentinization compose rock 'serpentinite'.
  
History
  
  
Origin
Egypt
  
USA
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Old French porfire, from Italian porfiro and in some cases directly from Latin porphyrites
  
From English word serpentinization.
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Plutonic
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Porphyritic
  
Earthy
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Red, Rust, White
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Dull
  
Rough and Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Construction Aggregate
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry
  
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Rhomb Porphyry
  
Jadeitite
  
Features
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Surfaces are often shiny
  
Host Rock for Lead
  
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
Not Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
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.
  
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Serpentinite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Biotite, Chert, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Quartz, Silica
  
Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Not Registered
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
6-7
  
3-5
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Very fine-grained
  
Fracture
Irregular
  
Uneven
  
Streak
White
  
White, Greenish White or Grey
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Dull
  
Waxy and Dull
  
Compressive Strength
Not Available
  
310.00 N/mm
2
  
2
Cleavage
Imperfect
  
Irregular
  
Toughness
1.7
  
7
  
Specific Gravity
2.5-4
  
2.79-3
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.5-2.52 g/cm3
  
2.5-3 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available
  
0.95 kJ/Kg K
  
9
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Heat Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
  
India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea
  
Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa
  
Ethiopia, Western Africa
  
Europe
Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland
  
England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Others
Greenland
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, USA
  
Canada
  
South America
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay
  
Colombia
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia
  
Central Australia, New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia
  
Porphyry vs Serpentinite Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Porphyry vs Serpentinite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Porphyry and Properties of Serpentinite. Learn more about Porphyry vs Serpentinite in the next section. The interior uses of Porphyry include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Serpentinite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Porphyry and Serpentinite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Porphyry in construction industry include Construction aggregate and that of Serpentinite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement.
More about Porphyry and Serpentinite
Here you can know more about Porphyry and Serpentinite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Porphyry and Serpentinite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Porphyry includes Biotite, Chert, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Quartz, Silica and mineral content of Serpentinite includes Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Porphyry vs Serpentinite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Porphyry is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, red, rust, white colors whereas, Serpentinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. Appearance of Porphyry is Dull and that of Serpentinite is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Porphyry vs Serpentinite. The hardness of Porphyry is 6-7 and that of Serpentinite is 3-5. The types of Porphyry are Rhomb Porphyry whereas types of Serpentinite are Jadeitite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Porphyry is white while that of Serpentinite is white, greenish white or grey. The specific heat capacity of Porphyry is Not Available and that of Serpentinite is 0.95 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Porphyry is heat resistant, impact resistant whereas Serpentinite is heat resistant.