1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.
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
1.2.2 Discoverer
Unknown
Georgius Agricola
1.3 Etymology
From pseudo- + tachylite, a glassy rock generated by frictional heat within faults.
From Late Latin Basaltes (variant of basanites ), very hard stone, which was imported from Ancient Greek Basanites
1.4 Class
Metamorphic Rocks
Igneous Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
1.6 Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Quench
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular
2.2 Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey
2.3 Maintenance
2.4 Durability
2.4.1 Water Resistant
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
2.5 Appearance
Dull and Soft
Dull and Soft
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing, Whetstones
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Cutting Tool, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
Artifacts, Monuments
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Used in aquariums
4 Types
4.1 Types
Not Available
Alkaline Basalt, Boninite, High Alumina Basalt, Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB), Tholeiitic Basalt, Basaltic trachyandesite, Mugearite and Shoshonite
4.2 Features
Host Rock for Lead
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
Easter Island in the Polynesian Triangle, Pacific Ocean, Gateway of India in Mumbai, India, Gol Gumbaz in Karnataka, India
4.3.3 Sculpture
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
Data Not Available
4.3.5 Pictographs
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
4.3.7 Figurines
4.4 Fossils
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Pseudotachylite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.
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
Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
5.2.2 Compound Content
Carbon Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
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
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
Contact Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
Biological Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
Not Available
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Very fine-grained
Fine Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
6.1.4 Streak
Light to dark brown
White to Grey
6.1.5 Porosity
6.1.6 Luster
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
60.00 N/mm237.40 N/mm2
0.15
450
6.1.8 Cleavage
6.1.9 Toughness
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
Transparent to Translucent
Opaque
6.1.12 Density
2.7-2.9 g/cm32.9-3.1 g/cm3
0
1400
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K
0.14
3.2
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
South Korea
India, Russia
7.1.2 Africa
Western Africa
South Africa
7.1.3 Europe
Great Britain, Switzerland
Iceland
7.1.4 Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
Not Yet Found
Canada, USA
7.2.2 South America
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
Not Yet Found