igneous
Basalt Pebble
Aphanitic mafic extrusive rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, dull luster, microcrystalline or aphanitic texture.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, dull luster, microcrystalline or aphanitic texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity, iron- and magnesium-rich lava flows at the Earth's surface.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction as crushed aggregate, railroad ballast, and dimension stone.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's crustal portions underlying the world's ocean basins.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its fine-grained dark matrix, often rounded by water transport in riverbeds and beaches.
