Know all about Gneiss and Basalt properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gneiss belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Basalt belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Gneiss is Banded, Foliated, Platy whereas that of Basalt is Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular. Gneiss appears Foliated and Basalt appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Gneiss is dull while that of Basalt is not available. Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors whereas Basalt is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. The commercial uses of Gneiss are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used in aquariums and that of Basalt are an oil and gas reservoir, commemorative tablets, creating artwork, used in aquariums.