igneous
Basalt
Extrusive Igneous Rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, dull luster, aphanitic texture with visible vesicles (gas cavities).
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Physical properties
Hardness 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, dull luster, aphanitic texture with visible vesicles (gas cavities).
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
Commonly used in construction, aggregate for road building, production of rock wool insulation, and occasionally as dimension stone.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's crust underlying the ocean basins and forms massive features like the Columbia River Flood Basalts.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its dark, fine-grained matrix and vesicular texture; widely distributed globally in volcanic regions and oceanic crusts.
