Basanite is a black basaltic rock which mainly contains plagioclase, augite, olivine and nepheline and is formerly used as a touchstone
From Latin basanites + -ite
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
Decorative Aggregates, Homes
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points
As a touchstone, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Manufacture of tools, Metallurgical Flux, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms
Nepheline-Basanite, Analcite-Basanite and Leucite-Basanite
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Used as a touchstone
Archaeological Significance
Basanite is a fine-grained, hard rock that forms when bits of lava shoot out of volcanoes.
Augite, Feldspar, Ilmenite, Olivine, Plagioclase
Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Deposits in Western Continents
Deposits in Oceania Continent
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
Learn more about Properties of Basanite
What is Basanite ? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Basanite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Basanite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Basanite is 100.00 N/mm2. Streak of Basanite is white while its cleavage is . Luster of Basanite is waxy and dull and its fracture is uneven, splintery or conchoidal. Basanite is translucent to opaque in nature. Know all about Basanite , What is Basanite , its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.
Know about Composition of Basanite
What is Basanite composed of? Get to know about composition of Basanite here. Basanite definition gives information about the Formation of Basanite and its composition.The composition of Basanite can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Basanite rock includes Augite, Feldspar, Ilmenite, Olivine, Plagioclase and The compound content of Basanite rock includes Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Basanite rock in next section.