Red - Porphyry
Quarry Location: Sierra Chata, 80 km Puerto Madryn, Prov. Chubut
Density: 2560 kg/m³
Flexural Strength: 20 - 23 MPa
Compressive Strength: 200 - 221.5 MPa
Recommended Usage: Kitchen and bathroom countertops, monuments, building stone, ornamental stone, stairs, interior, exterior wall and floor applications, mosaic, waterjet pattern, wall panels, table tops, window sills, balustrades, columns, wall and pool copings, pool pavers, sculptures, fireplaces
Finishing Surface: Polished,Flamed,Bush Hammered,Tumbled,Brushed,Honed,Split,Machine Cut,Natural Surface,Sandblasted,Acid Washing,Combed,Leathered,Water Jet,Filled,Chiseled,Pickling
Additional Names: Porfido Rojo Argentino, Rosso Argentino Porphyry, Porfido Sierra Chata, Sierra Chata Porphyry,Porfiris
Porfiris Porphyry is a fine-grained igneous rock, exhibiting hues ranging from red to earthy brown, and is quarried in Sierra Chata, located approximately 80 kilometers from Puerto Madryn in the province of Chubut, Argentina. This stone is characterized by its composition, which includes large-grained crystals such as feldspar or quartz dispersed within a fine-grained feldspathic matrix or groundmass.
This type of porphyry stone is an eruptive rock formed from the solidification of magma around 250 million years ago. It belongs to the category of magmatic or igneous rocks, as it originates from the solidification of magma, which is a molten mass of volcanic origin found at very high temperatures within the Earth's crust. The cooling process of this magma began slowly in the depths, leading to the solidification of magma and the formation of crystals of the minerals that compose it.
In terms of chemical composition, Porfiris Porphyry typically consists of approximately 70% silicon oxide, 12% aluminum oxide, 6% potassium oxide, and lower percentages of iron oxide, sodium, calcium, and magnesium.
Mineralogically, it is composed of about 40% quartz and feldspar crystals, which are submerged within a glassy paste. This unique composition and the formation process contribute to the distinctive characteristics of porphyry. The term "porphyritic" is used to describe this particular structure, which makes Porfiris Porphyry a highly valued material for flooring and cladding applications, both for its aesthetic appeal and its durability.