igneous
Basalt Pebble
Extrusive Igneous Rock
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black in color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, dull to submetallic luster, high specific gravity.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black in color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, dull to submetallic luster, high specific gravity.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron exposed at or very near the Earth's surface.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, aggregate for concrete, road base, and occasionally in landscaping or as a worry stone.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's oceanic crust and is also found abundantly on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Found globally in volcanic regions and riverbeds where weathering has rounded the fragments into smooth pebbles.
