igneous
Basalt Pebble
Extrusive Igneous Rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, and high specific gravity.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, and high specific gravity.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity basaltic lava exposed at or very near the Earth's surface.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction aggregate, road base, railroad ballast, and sometimes in landscaping.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's crust underlying the world's ocean basins and forms much of the Moon's maria.
Field identification & locations
Found globally in volcanic regions and riverbeds where wave action or currents have smoothed the stone into a pebble.
