Basalt vs Chert Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Basalt vs Chert characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Basalt and Properties of Chert. Learn more about Basalt vs Chert in the next section. The interior uses of Basalt include Floor tiles, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens whereas the interior uses of Chert include Decorative aggregates and Homes. Due to some exceptional properties of Basalt and Chert, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Basalt in construction industry include Arrowheads, As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Cutting tool, Rail track ballast, Roadstone and that of Chert include Arrowheads, Construction aggregate, Cutting tool, Spear points.
More about Basalt and Chert
Here you can know more about Basalt and Chert. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Basalt and Chert consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Basalt includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene and mineral content of Chert includes Quartz, Silicon. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Basalt vs Chert, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Basalt is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors whereas, Chert is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors. Appearance of Basalt is Dull and Soft and that of Chert is Glassy or Pearly. Properties of rock is another aspect for Basalt vs Chert. The hardness of Basalt is 6 and that of Chert is 6.5-7. The types of Basalt are Alkaline Basalt, Boninite, High Alumina Basalt, Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB), Tholeiitic Basalt, Basaltic trachyandesite, Mugearite and Shoshonite whereas types of Chert are Flint, Jasper, Radiolarite, Common Chert, Chalcedony, Agate, Onyx, Opal, Magadi-type Chert, Porcelanite, Siliceous Sinter. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Basalt is white to grey while that of Chert is white. The specific heat capacity of Basalt is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Chert is 0.74 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Basalt is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Chert is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.