igneous
Basalt with Olivine
Mafic extrusive igneous rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6-7 on Mohs scale for olivine phenocrysts, dark gray to black groundmass with green crystals, vitreous to dull luster, aphanitic texture.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale for olivine phenocrysts, dark gray to black groundmass with green crystals, vitreous to dull luster, aphanitic texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of magnesium- and iron-rich lava flows at the Earth's surface.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, aggregate, road base, and occasionally as decorative stone or lapidary material.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type of Earth's oceanic crust and is also found abundantly on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its dark, fine-grained matrix and embedded green olivine grains; found worldwide in volcanic regions.
