igneous
Basalt with weathering/lichens
Extrusive Igneous Rock
Hardness of 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, dull luster, specific gravity around 2.8-3.0.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, dull luster, specific gravity around 2.8-3.0.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in iron and magnesium exposed at or very near the Earth's surface.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, road aggregate, railroad ballast, and occasionally in manufacturing stone wool insulation.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type on Earth's crust underlying the ocean basins, and is also found abundantly on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its dark, fine-grained matrix, sometimes showing vesicular structures or weathering coatings. Widely distributed globally in volcanic regions.
