igneous
Basalt
Extrusive Igneous Rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, and vitreous to dull luster.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color, fine-grained aphanitic texture, and vitreous to dull luster.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity, magnesium- and iron-rich lava flows at the Earth's surface.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction, aggregate for roads, railroad ballast, and manufacturing of stone wool insulation.
Geological facts
Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth's crust beneath the oceans and also forms major volcanic formations on the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its dark, dense, fine-grained matrix and vesicular or porous structures; found globally in volcanic provinces.
