igneous
Basalt
Extrusive Igneous Rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, typically dark gray to black in color with an aphanitic, fine-grained texture and dull luster.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, typically dark gray to black in color with an aphanitic, fine-grained texture and dull luster.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity, magnesium- and iron-rich lava exposed at or very near the Earth's surface.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as crushed stone for road bases, railroad ballast, and aggregate in concrete production.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's oceanic crust and also makes up extensive volcanic plains on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its dark, dense, fine-grained appearance; commonly found in volcanic regions, oceanic islands, and continental flood basalt provinces.
