Andesite Porphyry
/ˈæn.də.saɪt ˈpɔːr.fə.ri/noun
A porphyritic volcanic rock composed chiefly of andesite, with larger crystals embedded in a finer-grained groundmass.
Did you know?Porphyry was associated with imperial power in ancient Rome because vivid purple-red Egyptian porphyry was extraordinarily difficult to quarry and transport.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
πορφύρα (porphýra)
“Purple dye or the purple color obtained from certain shellfish”
Late Antiquity
Greek
πορφυρίτης (porphyrítēs)
“A purple-colored stone, especially the hard red-purple rock quarried in Egypt”
Latin
Latin
porphyrites
“Porphyry, literally a purple-colored stone”
Medieval Period
Old French
porfire
“Porphyry or purple stone”
17th Century
English
porphyry
“A rock containing conspicuous crystals in a finer-grained groundmass”
1836
German/English
Andesit / andesite
“A volcanic rock named after the Andes Mountains, with the mineral suffix -ite indicating a rock or mineral”
Modern English
English
andesite porphyry
“Porphyritic andesite, characterized by large crystals set in a fine-grained volcanic matrix”