1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Basalt is a common extrusive igneous rock formed by the rapid cooling of basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface of Earth
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
Egypt
1.2.2 Discoverer
Georgius Agricola
1.3 Etymology
From Late Latin Basaltes (variant of basanites ), very hard stone, which was imported from Ancient Greek Basanites
1.4 Class
Igneous Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
Volcanic
1.6 Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular
2.2 Color
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey
2.3 Maintenance
More
2.4 Durability
Durable
2.4.1 Water Resistant
✔
✘
81% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
✔
✘
86% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
✔
✘
66% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
✔
✘
49% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
✔
✘
48% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.5 Appearance
Dull and Soft
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
Curbing, Whetstones
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Cutting Tool, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Used in aquariums
4 Types
4.1 Types
Alkaline Basalt, Boninite, High Alumina Basalt, Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB), Tholeiitic Basalt, Basaltic trachyandesite, Mugearite and Shoshonite
4.2 Features
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
Used
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Easter Island in the Polynesian Triangle, Pacific Ocean, Gateway of India in Mumbai, India, Gol Gumbaz in Karnataka, India
4.3.3 Sculpture
Used
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
4.3.5 Pictographs
Used
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
Used
4.3.7 Figurines
Used
4.4 Fossils
Absent
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
Basalt forms when lava reaches the Earth's surface near an active volcano. The temperature of lava is between 1100 to 1250° C when it gets to the surface.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
5.2.2 Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
✔
✘
97% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Contact Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
✔
✘
99% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
✔
✘
92% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Not Available
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Fine Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
Conchoidal
6.1.4 Streak
White to Grey
6.1.5 Porosity
Less Porous
6.1.6 Luster
Not Available
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
37.40 N/mm2
Rank: 28 (Overall) ▶
0.15
450
6.1.8 Cleavage
Not Available
6.1.9 Toughness
2.3
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
Opaque
6.1.12 Density
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K
Rank: 15 (Overall) ▶
0.14
3.2
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
India, Russia
7.1.2 Africa
South Africa
7.1.3 Europe
Iceland
7.1.4 Others
Not Yet Found
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
Canada, USA
7.2.2 South America
Brazil
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
Not Yet Found