igneous
Basalt
Extrusive Igneous Rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, aphanitic texture with fine-grained minerals, and dull luster.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, aphanitic texture with fine-grained minerals, and dull luster.
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
Used extensively in construction as crushed aggregate, for railroad ballast, and in manufacturing stone wool insulation.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's crust underlying the ocean basins and also forms major geological features on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its dark, fine-grained appearance; commonly found in volcanic regions, oceanic crusts, and flood basalt provinces worldwide.
