igneous
Basalt
Extrusive igneous rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, aphanitic texture, dull luster, composed mainly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, aphanitic texture, dull luster, composed mainly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in iron and magnesium exposed at or very near the surface of a planet or moon.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, crushed stone for road bases, railroad ballast, and in the production of rock wool insulation.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's crust underlying the ocean basins, and is also found abundantly on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its fine-grained dark appearance and dense, heavy feel, commonly found in volcanic provinces and oceanic crusts worldwide.
