igneous
Basalt
Extrusive igneous rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, aphanitic texture, specific gravity around 2.9.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, aphanitic texture, specific gravity around 2.9.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron exposed at or very near the surface of a planet or moon.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, aggregate for roads, making rock wool insulation, and manufacturing tiles.
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
Identify by its dark, fine-grained matrix with occasional visible phenocrysts of olivine or plagioclase; commonly found in volcanic regions worldwide.
