igneous
Basalt with Scoria/Vesicles
Aphanitic Igneous Rock (Fe/Mg rich)
Hardness: 6 on Mohs scale; Color: Dark grey to black; Luster: Dull to earthy; Texture: Fine-grained with visible vesicles (gas bubbles); Specific Gravity: 2.8–3.0
- Hardness
- 6 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Dark grey to black
- Luster
- Dull to earthy
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6 on Mohs scale; Color: Dark grey to black; Luster: Dull to earthy; Texture: Fine-grained with visible vesicles (gas bubbles); Specific Gravity: 2.8–3.0
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of magnesium-rich and iron-rich lava at the surface of a terrestrial planet or the moon. The holes (vesicles) are created by trapped gas-bubbles escaping as the lava solidifies.
Uses & applications
Used in construction (crushed stone), as a decorative garden rock, and in the manufacturing of stone wool insulation.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's crust and makes up most of the ocean floor. It is also common on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its heavy weight relative to size, dark color, and presence of small round pits. Widely found in volcanic regions such as the Pacific Northwest or Hawaii.
