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
Learn more about Properties of Basalt
What is Basalt? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Basalt i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Basalt include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Basalt is 37.40 N/mm2. Streak of Basalt is white to grey while its cleavage is . Luster of Basalt is and its fracture is conchoidal. Basalt is opaque in nature. Know all about Basalt, What is Basalt, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.
Know about Composition of Basalt
What is Basalt composed of? Get to know about composition of Basalt here. Basalt definition gives information about the Formation of Basalt and its composition.The composition of Basalt can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Basalt rock includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene and The compound content of Basalt rock includes Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Basalt rock in next section.