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Basalt

Igneous Rocks

A dark, fine-grained igneous rock formed from lava cooling quickly at the surface. It is the most common rock type in the Earth's oceanic crust and the dominant rock of most volcanic islands. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Kind
Rock 3
Formation Class
Igneous, extrusive (formed through the cooling and solidification of lava at or near the surface) 3
Chemical Formula
No single fixed formula; basalt is a mixture of minerals. It generally has a bulk composition of about 45 to 52 weight percent SiO2, 2 to 5 weight percent total alkalis, 0.5 to 2.0 weight percent TiO2, 5 to 14 weight percent FeO and 14 weight percent or more Al2O3. 1
Colour
Grey or Black 4
Colour
Brown 4
Rarity
Abundant 4
Classification
Classification
Igneous Rock 1
Use
Building and Construction 2
Wikipedia 'Basalt' states this use (or use-bearing statement); earth5 pass.
Use
Sculpture and Ornamental 2
Wikipedia 'Basalt' states this use (or use-bearing statement); earth5 pass.
Connections

Associated With

Source Admiralty Group (Wikipedia)
Source Algar do Carvao (Wikipedia)
Source Deccan Traps (Wikipedia)
Source Devils Postpile National Monument (Wikipedia)
Diabase, Materials

Chemically equivalent to fine-grained extrusive basalt; diabase is the subvolcanic (intermediate-depth) equivalent.

Source Diabase (Wikipedia)
Source Diamond Rock (Wikipedia)
Source Drakensberg (Wikipedia)
Source Dubh Artach (Wikipedia)
Source Erta Ale (Wikipedia)
Source Flood basalt (Wikipedia)
Source Volcán de Fuego (Wikipedia)
Gabbro, Materials

Gabbro has the same chemical composition and mineralogy as rapidly cooled, fine-grained basalt.

Source Gabbro (Wikipedia)
Source Garni Gorge (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Giant's Causeway - Wikipedia
Source Hula Valley (Wikipedia)
Source Hunter Valley (Wikipedia)
Source Karimunjawa Islands (Wikipedia)
Source Laki (Wikipedia)
Source Lava field (Wikipedia)
Source Lava lake (Wikipedia)
Source Moso's Footprint (Wikipedia)
Source Oceanic plateau (Wikipedia)
Source Ojos del Salado (Wikipedia)
Source Outer Hebrides (Wikipedia)
Source Penghu (Wikipedia)
Source Piedras Encimadas Valley (Wikipedia)
Source Poás Volcano (Wikipedia)
Source Reynisfjara (Wikipedia)
Source Savage Islands (Wikipedia)
Source Simien Mountains (Wikipedia)
Source St. Mary's Islands (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Organ Pipes National Park - Wikipedia
Source Toluca Valley (Wikipedia)
Source Tunkin Depression (Wikipedia)

Caused By

Volcanism, Processes
Source Basalt (Wikipedia)

Classified As

In Discipline

Geology, Disciplines
Source Rock, Geology (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Basalt (Wikipedia)
  • Geochemistry section
    Basalt generally has a composition of 45-52 wt% SiO2, 2-5 wt% total alkalis, 0.5-2.0 wt% TiO2, 5-14 wt% FeO and 14 wt% or more Al2O3.
  • Lead section
    Basalt (UK: BAH-salt); US: buh-SALT) is an aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the surface of a rocky planet or moon.
  • Caused By: Volcanism, Lead paragraph
    Basalt (UK: BAH-salt); US: buh-SALT) is an aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the surface of a rocky planet or moon
View the Source
2. Wikidata: Basalt
Wikidata Q43338
3. Rock, Geology (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationView the Source
4. Geology.com: Basalt
Geology.com
  • Article text
    Although basalt is typically a dark black rock, it often weathers to a yellow-brown color similar to the rocks shown here.
  • Article text, rarity
    Earth's Most Abundant Bedrock Basalt underlies more of Earth's surface than any other rock type.
  • Article text, colour-category
    King, PhD Basalt: A fine-grained igneous rock that is usually black in color.
View the Source
Diabase (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Diabase, Lead section
Quote, Associated With: Diabase, Lead section
Diabase (), also called dolerite () or microgabbro, is a mafic, holocrystalline, subvolcanic rock chemically equivalent to volcanic basalt or plutonic gabbro.
View the Source
Reynisfjara (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Reynisfjara Basalt Columns, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Reynisfjara Basalt Columns, Lead paragraph
In February 2026, following weeks of strong waves and easterly winds, part of the iconic basalt columns collapsed along with significant erosion of the beach.
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Devils Postpile National Monument (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Devils Postpile, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Devils Postpile, Lead paragraph
The monument protects Devils Postpile, an unusual rock formation of columnar basalt, "all closely and perfectly fitted together like a vast mosaic", and Rainbow Falls a waterfall on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, which are also the two main attractions.
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Deccan Traps (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Deccan Traps, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Deccan Traps, Lead paragraph
The Traps consist of many layers of solidified flood basalt that together are more than about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) thick, cover an area of about 500,000 square kilometres (200,000 sq mi), and have a volume of about 1 million km3 (200,000 cu mi).
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St. Mary's Islands (Wikipedia)
  • Associated With: St. Mary's Islands, Lead paragraph
    Scientific studies indicate that the basalt of the islands was formed by subaerial subvolcanic activity more than 90 million years ago.
  • Associated With: St. Mary's Islands, Article text, rock Basalt
    The Deccan Traps that formed during Cretaceous-Eocene time about 60 million years ago emerged from the vast deluge of hot molten basaltic lava in the western part of India which is now seen as flat topped hills and step like terraces.
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Erta Ale (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Erta Ale, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Erta Ale, Lead paragraph
It is composed of basalt, and it is the most active of the volcanoes in Ethiopia.
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Laki (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Laki, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Laki, Lead paragraph
It poured out an estimated 42 billion tonnes or 14 km3 (18×10^9 cu yd) of basalt lava, as well as clouds of poisonous hydrofluoric acid and sulfur dioxide compounds that contaminated the soil, leading to the death of over 50% of Iceland's livestock population and the destruction of the vast majority of all crops.
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Diamond Rock (Wikipedia)
  • Associated With: Diamond Rock, Lead paragraph
    Diamond Rock (French: Rocher du Diamant) is a 175-meter-high (574-foot) basalt island located south of "Grande Anse du Diamant" before arriving from the south at Fort-de-France, the main port of the Caribbean island of Martinique.
  • Associated With: Diamond Rock, Lead, rock Basalt
    Diamond Rock (French: Rocher du Diamant) is a 175-meter-high (574-foot) basalt island located south of "Grande Anse du Diamant" before arriving from the south at Fort-de-France, the main port of the Caribbean island of Martinique.
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Piedras Encimadas Valley (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Piedras Encimadas Valley, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Piedras Encimadas Valley, Lead paragraph
The main feature of the zone is basalt rock formations in capricious forms, created by erosion over millions of years.
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Garni Gorge (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Garni Gorge, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Garni Gorge, Lead paragraph
Along the sides of the gorge are cliff walls of well-preserved basalt columns, carved out by the Goght River.
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Moso's Footprint (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Moso's Footprint, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Moso's Footprint, Lead paragraph
It is a 2m long depression in basalt.
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Penghu (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Penghu, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Penghu, Lead paragraph
It is also renowned for its unique natural feature of columnar basalt landscape.
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Dubh Artach (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Dubh Artach, Lead paragraph
Quote, Associated With: Dubh Artach, Lead paragraph
Dubh Artach (; Scottish Gaelic: Dubh Hirteach [t̪u ˈhirˠʃtʃəx]) is a remote skerry of basalt rock off the west coast of Scotland lying 18 miles (29 km) west of Colonsay and 15 miles (24 km) south-west of the Ross of Mull.
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Admiralty Group (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Admiralty Group, Lead, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Admiralty Group, Lead, rock Basalt
From south to north, these are: Soldier’s Cap Sugarloaf South Island Noddy Roach Island Tenth of June North Rock Flat Rock Roach Island is the largest, being about 15 ha in area, 800 m long and 86 m in maximum height, with a much-photographed 15-metre-tall tunnel at its northern end. Basalt lava flows are crossed by many dikes.
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Flood basalt (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Flood Basalt, Lead, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Flood Basalt, Lead, rock Basalt
A flood basalt (or plateau basalt) is the result of a giant volcanic eruption or series of eruptions that covers large stretches of land or the ocean floor with basalt lava.
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Volcán de Fuego (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Fuego Volcano, Lead, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Fuego Volcano, Lead, rock Basalt
Small explosions of gas and ash occur every 15 to 20 minutes, but larger eruptions are less frequent. Andesite and basalt lava types dominate.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Giant's Causeway - Wikipedia
Associated With: Giant's Causeway, Lead, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Giant's Causeway, Lead, rock Basalt
The Giant's Causeway (Irish: Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFomhórach) is an area of approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption, part of the North Atlantic Igneous Province active in the region during the Paleogene period.
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Hula Valley (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Hula Valley, Article text, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Hula Valley, Article text, rock Basalt
slopes: the Golan Heights to the east and the Upper Galilee's Naftali Mountains to the west rise to 400 to 900 meters above sea level. Basalt hills of about 200 meters above sea level along the southern side of the valley intercept the Jordan River, and are commonly referred to as the basalt "plug", the Korazim block, or
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Hunter Valley (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Hunter Valley, Article text, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Hunter Valley, Article text, rock Basalt
At one time this fault was very geologically active and gave rise to the Brokenback range that feature prominently in the Hunter valley. Strips of basalt found throughout the region also bear witness to the volcanic activity that has occurred in the history of this fault.
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Karimunjawa Islands (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Karimunjawa, Article text, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Karimunjawa, Article text, rock Basalt
The archipelago consists predominantly of pre-Tertiary continental islands primarily of quartzites and shales covered by basaltic lava.
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Lava lake (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Lava Lake, Lead, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Lava Lake, Lead, rock Basalt
Lava lakes are large volumes of molten lava, usually basaltic, contained in a volcanic vent, crater, or broad depression.
View the Source
Oceanic plateau (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Oceanic plateau, Lead, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Oceanic plateau, Lead, rock Basalt
Plateaus formed by large igneous provinces were formed by the equivalent of continental flood basalts such as the Deccan Traps in India and the Snake River Plain in the United States.
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Ojos del Salado (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Ojos del Salado, Article text, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Ojos del Salado, Article text, rock Basalt
Two edifices, less than 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide, flank the 1.3-by-0.5-kilometre-wide (0.81 mi × 0.31 mi) summit crater on its eastern and western side. Basalt, gravel, pumice and scoria crop out in its rim, which is lower on the northern side.
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Outer Hebrides (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Outer Hebrides, Article text, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Outer Hebrides, Article text, rock Basalt
These rocks are largely igneous in origin, mixed with metamorphosed marble, quartzite and mica schist and intruded by later basaltic dykes and granite magma.
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Savage Islands (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Savage Islands, Article text, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Savage Islands, Article text, rock Basalt
The islands themselves are crossed by many calcareous faults, some marbleised, and made of basaltic rock, ash, and other volcanic materials.
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Simien Mountains (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Simien Mountains, Article text, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Simien Mountains, Article text, rock Basalt
The volcano is believed to have spread over more than 5000 m2 and resulted in a thick sequence of basaltic lava some 3,000-3,500 m thick that was deposited on Precambrian crystalline basement.
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Wikipedia: Organ Pipes National Park - Wikipedia
Associated With: The Organ Pipes, Victoria, Lead, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: The Organ Pipes, Victoria, Lead, rock Basalt
Both the ancient river valley and the Silurian sedimentary rock lies buried beneath the basaltic volcanic rocks of the New Volcanic Group.
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Toluca Valley (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Toluca Valley, Article text, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Toluca Valley, Article text, rock Basalt
Mountains sides have tertiary volcanic rock, mostly basalt and andesite along with pyroclastic matter and breaches.
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Tunkin Depression (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Tunkin Depression, Lead, rock Basalt
Quote, Associated With: Tunkin Depression, Lead, rock Basalt
The Tunkin volcanic field has filled the Tunkin Depression with about 500 metres (1,600 ft) of volcanic products, which range from Miocene to Quaternary and include basaltic lava flows and tuffs.
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Algar do Carvao (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Algar do Carvao, Infobox: geology
Quote, Associated With: Algar do Carvao, Infobox: geology
Lava tube, Basalt
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Drakensberg (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Drakensberg, Infobox: geology
Quote, Associated With: Drakensberg, Infobox: geology
Basalt, Quartzite
View the Source
Poás Volcano (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Poas Volcano, Infobox: geology
Quote, Associated With: Poas Volcano, Infobox: geology
Andesite, Basalt, Basaltic Andesite, Picro-Basalt, Dacite
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Lava field (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Lava Field, Lead section
Quote, Associated With: Lava Field, Lead section
Such features are generally composed of highly fluid basalt lava, and can extend for tens or hundreds of kilometers across the underlying terrain.
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