What is "elvan"

Elvan \Elv"an\, a.

1. Pertaining to elves; elvish.

2. (Mining) Of or pertaining to certain veins of feldspathic or porphyritic rock crossing metalliferous veins in the mining districts of Cornwall; as, an elvan course.

Elvan \Elv"an\, Elvanite \Elv"an*ite\, n. The rock of an elvan vein, or the elvan vein itself; an elvan course.

a. 1 Pertaining to elf; elvish; elven. 2 (context mining English) Of or relating to certain veins of feldspathic or porphyritic rock crossing metalliferous veins in the mining districts of Cornwall. n. (context mining English) The rock of an elvan vein, or the vein itself.

Elvan is a name used in Cornwall and Devon for the native varieties of quartz-porphyry. They are dispersed irregularly in the Upper Devonian series of rocks and some of them make very fine building stones (e.g. Pentewan stone, Polyphant stone and Catacleuse stone). Greenstone is another name for this stone and it is often used for parts of buildings such as doorways so they can be finely carved. Most of the elvan quarries are now disused. Others are quarried in bulk for aggregates commonly used for road-building.

Elvan is the native variety of quartz-porphyry in Cornwall and Devon, England.

Elvan may also refer to: