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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
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

Diabase, Materials

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

Source Diabase (Wikipedia)
Gabbro, Materials

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

Source Gabbro (Wikipedia)

Caused By

Volcanism, Processes
Source Basalt (Wikipedia)

Classified As

Igneous Rocks, Subcategories

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
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
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