Diorite Gneiss

This is a rock composed mainly of translucent white plagioclase and dark hornblende with a little boitite. The appearance of the stone varies from dark (hornblende and biotite make up almost 50 %) to very light (5 % hornblende). The material was often used in the predynastic period for stone vessels. In the Old and Middle Kingdom (about 2025-1700 BC) statues were produced in the material. Later it became rare.

It has been suggested that the Egyptian name for the stone is mntt.

examples