Basalt is a common extrusive igneous rock formed by the rapid cooling of basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface of Earth
From Late Latin Basaltes (variant of basanites ), very hard stone, which was imported from Ancient Greek Basanites
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey
Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Cutting Tool, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Used in aquariums
Alkaline Basalt, Boninite, High Alumina Basalt, Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB), Tholeiitic Basalt, Basaltic trachyandesite, Mugearite and Shoshonite
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
Archaeological Significance
Easter Island in the Polynesian Triangle, Pacific Ocean, Gateway of India in Mumbai, India, Gol Gumbaz in Karnataka, India
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.
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Deposits in Western Continents
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Information about Basalt
Rocks are naturally occurring solids which are composed of minerals & have been used by humans since ages. From Stone Age, rocks are used for various purposes. Also, the metals and minerals found in rock play an important role in our life. Get to know all the Basalt Uses. We have provided you with all information about Basalt rock here. Basalt is a common extrusive igneous rock formed by the rapid cooling of basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface of Earth. Basalt is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. The streak of a rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Basalt is white to grey. Get to know more about Basalt rock and characteristics of Basalt rock in the next sections.