igneous
Basalt with Vesicular Texture
Extrusive Mafic Igneous Rock (primarily Plagioclase Feldspar and Pyroxene)
Hardness: 6 on Mohs scale; Color: Dark grey to bluish-grey; Luster: Dull (earthy); Crystal structure: Aphanitic (fine-grained) with visible vesicles (pitted surface); Specific gravity: 2.8–3.0
- Hardness
- 6 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Dark grey to bluish-grey
- Luster
- Dull (earthy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6 on Mohs scale; Color: Dark grey to bluish-grey; Luster: Dull (earthy); Crystal structure: Aphanitic (fine-grained) with visible vesicles (pitted surface); Specific gravity: 2.8–3.0
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of magnesium-rich and iron-rich lava at or very near the Earth's surface. It is the most common rock in Earth's crust, making up most of the ocean floor. Common in volcanic regions.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction as road base, railroad ballast, and aggregate in concrete. It is also used for cobblestones and sometimes as a thermal insulator in its mineral wool form.
Geological facts
Basalt is also found on other planetary bodies, including the Moon, Mars, and Venus. On the Moon, the dark plains known as 'Maria' are composed of massive basaltic lava flows.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its dark color, heavy weight (density), and fine-grained texture. It often breaks into sharp edges. It is extremely common in the Pacific Northwest of the US, Iceland, and Hawaii.
