1 Definition
1.1 Definition
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc
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 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap
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, Soft 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
Polished
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular
2.2 Color
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey
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, Banded and Foilated
Dull and Soft
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
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
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Cutting Tool, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
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
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
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
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
4.3.5 Pictographs
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
4.3.7 Figurines
4.4 Fossils
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock and it is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich inmagnesium.
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
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
5.2.2 Compound Content
CaO, Mg, MgO
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, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional 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
Fine Grained
Fine Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
6.1.4 Streak
6.1.5 Porosity
6.1.6 Luster
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
225.00 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
6.1.12 Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm32.9-3.1 g/cm3
0
1400
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K
0.14
3.2
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand
India, Russia
7.1.2 Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
South Africa
7.1.3 Europe
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Iceland
7.1.4 Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
7.2.2 South America
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland
Not Yet Found