igneous
Basalt with Quartz Vein
Extrusive Igneous Rock / Volcanic Rock
Hardness: 6-7 (due to quartz), Color: Reddish-brown (oxidized) with white/off-white banding, Luster: Dull to vitreous in the vein, Texture: Aphanitic/vesicular with hydrothermal quartz infilling.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (due to quartz), Color: Reddish-brown (oxidized) with white/off-white banding, Luster: Dull to vitreous in the vein, Texture: Aphanitic/vesicular with hydrothermal quartz infilling.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the cooling of mafic lava flows at or near the Earth's surface, followed by hydrothermal activity where silica-rich fluids filled vesicles or fractures with secondary quartz.
Uses & applications
Primarily of interest to geological collectors, used occasionally for landscaping or educational specimens.
Geological facts
The reddish color is typically a result of iron oxidation (rusting) within the iron-rich volcanic matrix, contrasting sharply with the late-stage quartz or calcite injection.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by the vesicular, pitted texture of the reddish volcanic host rock crossed by a contrasting lighter mineral vein. Common in volcanic regions worldwide.
