Home
Compare Rocks


What is Basalt?



Definition
0

Definition
Basalt is a common extrusive igneous rock formed by the rapid cooling of basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface of Earth 0

History
0

Origin
Egypt 0

Discoverer
Georgius Agricola 0

Etymology
From Late Latin Basaltes (variant of basanites ), very hard stone, which was imported from Ancient Greek Basanites 0

Class
Igneous Rocks 0

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock 0

Family
0

Group
Volcanic 0

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock 0

Texture
0

Texture
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular 0

Color
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey 0

Maintenance
More 0

Durability
Durable 0

Water Resistant
No 0

Scratch Resistant
Yes 0

Stain Resistant
Yes 0

Wind Resistant
No 0

Acid Resistant
Yes 0

Appearance
Dull and Soft 0

Uses
0

Architecture
0

Interior Uses
Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens 0

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings 0

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing, Whetstones 0

Industry
0

Construction Industry
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Cutting Tool, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone 0

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used 0

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments 0

Other Uses
0

Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Used in aquariums 0

Types
0

Types
Alkaline Basalt, Boninite, High Alumina Basalt, Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB), Tholeiitic Basalt, Basaltic trachyandesite, Mugearite and Shoshonite 0

Features
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock 0

Archaeological Significance
0

Monuments
Used 0

Famous Monuments
Easter Island in the Polynesian Triangle, Pacific Ocean, Gateway of India in Mumbai, India, Gol Gumbaz in Karnataka, India 0

Sculpture
Used 0

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available 0

Pictographs
Used 0

Petroglyphs
Used 0

Figurines
Used 0

Fossils
Absent 0

Formation
0

Formation
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. 0

Composition
0

Mineral Content
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene 0

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide 0

Transformation
0

Metamorphism
Yes 0

Types of Metamorphism
Contact Metamorphism 0

Weathering
Yes 0

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering 0

Erosion
No 0

Types of Erosion
Not Available 0

Properties
0

Physical Properties
0

Hardness
6 0

Grain Size
Fine Grained 0

Fracture
Conchoidal 0

Streak
White to Grey 0

Porosity
Less Porous 0

Luster
Not Available 0

Compressive Strength
37.40 N/mm2 28

Cleavage
Not Available 0

Toughness
2.3 0

Specific Gravity
2.8-3 0

Transparency
Opaque 0

Density
2.9-3.1 g/cm3 0

Thermal Properties
0

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K 15

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant 0

Reserves
0

Deposits in Eastern Continents
0

Asia
India, Russia 0

Africa
South Africa 0

Europe
Iceland 0

Others
Not Yet Found 0

Deposits in Western Continents
0

North America
Canada, USA 0

South America
Brazil 0

Deposits in Oceania Continent
0

Australia
Not Yet Found 0

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

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 not available. Luster of Basalt is not available 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.

Compare Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

» More Igneous Rocks

Compare Igneous Rocks

» More Compare Igneous Rocks