igneous
Basalt (with Vesicles)
Mafic Volcanic Rock
Hardness: 6 (Mohs scale). Color: Dark gray to greenish-brown with dark speckles/pores. Luster: Earthy to dull. Texture: Fine-grained (aphanitic) with small vesicles (gas pockets). Specific Gravity: 2.8-3.0.
- Hardness
- 6 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Dark gray to greenish-brown with dark speckles/pores
- Luster
- Earthy to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6 (Mohs scale). Color: Dark gray to greenish-brown with dark speckles/pores. Luster: Earthy to dull. Texture: Fine-grained (aphanitic) with small vesicles (gas pockets). Specific Gravity: 2.8-3.0.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of magnesium-rich and iron-rich lava exposed at or very near the surface of Earth. Often associated with oceanic crust and volcanic regions.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as crushed stone, road base, asphalt concrete aggregate, railroad ballast, and dimension stone.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's crust and covers most of the ocean floor. It is also abundantly found on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its dark, heavy, fine-grained texture and occasional small gas cavities (vesicles). Commonly found in volcanic terrains, riverbeds, and beach deposits.
