igneous
Basalt Pebble
Extrusive Igneous Rock
Hardness of 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, dull luster, specific gravity around 2.8 - 3.0
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, dull luster, specific gravity around 2.8 - 3.0
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface of a planet or moon
Uses & applications
Used in construction, aggregate for roads, railroad ballast, and sometimes in stonemasonry or landscaping
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's crust underlying the world's oceans, and is also found abundantly on the Moon, Mars, and Venus
Field identification & locations
Commonly found in stream beds and beaches where water action has smoothed and rounded the stone into a pebble
