porphyry
/ˈpɔːrfəri/
noun
- A hard, reddish-purple rock that contains small, light-colored crystals, often used in building and sculpture.
- The cathedral's columns were carved from a beautiful red porphyry.
- The ancient Romans used porphyry to make statues of their emperors.
- Geologists identified the sample as porphyry because of its distinctive crystal pattern.