igneous
Basalt Fragment
Extrusive Igneous Rock
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, dull to sub-metallic luster.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, dull to sub-metallic luster.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in iron and magnesium exposed at or very near the surface of a planet or moon.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as crushed stone for road bases, concrete aggregate, and in manufacturing insulation.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's oceanic crust and is also found extensively on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its dark, fine-grained appearance, often vesicular due to trapped gas bubbles, found globally in volcanic regions.
