8 Facts about Basalt

Thursday, May 21st 2015. | Science

Facts about Basalt talk about one type of volcanic rock. It was formed after the basaltic lava cools rapidly due to its exposure near the moon or planet surface. It is a type of igneous rock. Based on the volume, it contains less 10 percent of feldspathoid and less than 20 percent of quartz. 65 percent of them are feldspar. Let’s find out more interesting facts about basalt below:

Facts about Basalt 1: colors

Can you define the color of basalt? It can be in black to grey color. But you can find this rock in rust red or even brown due to the exudation process. It is available in different kinds of shading because of the geochemical process. However, the rock is still included as dark basaltic rock.

Facts about Basalt 2: the light color

You can find basalt in light color even though it is rare. The light color is perceived because of the high concentration of plagioclase and weathering.

Facts about Basalt

Facts about Basalt 3: the name

The word basalt was taken from the Latin word. It means very hard stone. This term can be found in De re metallica, libri XII. It was a work about mining and mineralogy by Georgius Agricola in 1556. He used the term to call the volcanic black rock at Stolpen. He believed that this basalt stone is similar with the one described in Naturalis Historiae by Pliny the Elder. Get facts about archeology here.

Facts about Basalt 4: Tholeiitic basalt

Tholeiitic basalt can be found in most large oceanic islands, ocean floors, and continent floor basalts. This basalt is composed of silica. It also contains very small sodium.

Basalt Stone

Facts about Basalt 5: Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt

Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt is also called MORB. It can be found on the ocean ridges because of the eruption. Get facts about Amethyst here.

Facts about Basalt 6: Alkali basalt

Alkali basalt is characterized with the high amount of sodium and low amount of silica. This type of basalt can be made of phlogopite, alkali feldspar and feldspathoids.

Basalt Pic

Facts about Basalt 7: Boninite

If you want to know the type of basalt which has high amount of magnesium, you need to look at boninite. The titanium content of this rock is very low.

Facts about Basalt 8: the uses of basalt

There are various kinds of basalt usage. The columnar basalt is used to create cobblestone. Several artists also use basalt to create statues. It is also used to make the construction of groundwork or even building blocks.