igneous
Eroded Brick or Pumice-like Scoria
Vesicular Basalt / Scoria (Anthropogenic variant: Eroded Firebrick)
Hardness 5-6 (Mohs), color ranging from reddish-brown to dark tan, earthy to dull luster, vesicular (porous) texture, no specific crystal structure visible to the naked eye.
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Physical properties
Hardness 5-6 (Mohs), color ranging from reddish-brown to dark tan, earthy to dull luster, vesicular (porous) texture, no specific crystal structure visible to the naked eye.
Formation & geological history
Likely a piece of scoria formed from gas-rich basaltic lava cooling rapidly, or more commonly in residential areas, a piece of industrial brick that has been rounded by tumbling in water (river or beach erosion).
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, high-temperature kilns (if brick), or as an abrasive; scoria is often used as drainage rock or in gas grills.
Geological facts
This specimen shows significant rounding typical of fluvial or coastal erosion. If it is a natural rock, it is a volcanic glass foam. If it is human-made, it represents the transformation of clay back into a rock-like state through firing.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its light weight relative to size (high porosity) and the presence of small holes (vesicles). Found near volcanic sites or, if debris, near old construction and waterways.
