igneous
Quartz-veined Basalt
Magmatic extrusive rock with hydrothermal quartz veining
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6-7 on Mohs scale; dark grey to brownish-green groundmass with contrasting bright white quartz veins; dull to vitreous luster; aphanitic to microcrystalline texture.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale; dark grey to brownish-green groundmass with contrasting bright white quartz veins; dull to vitreous luster; aphanitic to microcrystalline texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the cooling of volcanic lava at the Earth's surface, later fractured and infiltrated by hydrothermal silica-rich fluids that precipitated quartz into the cracks.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in aggregate for construction, road metal, and occasionally as decorative landscaping stone.
Geological facts
Vein networks in volcanic rocks often indicate ancient seismic activity and fluid migration pathways in the Earth's crust.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by a fine-grained dark volcanic matrix distinctly cut by interlocking white quartz fracture fillings; commonly found in volcanic provinces worldwide.
