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What Is It?
Basalt is a black or grey extrusive volcanic rock. It is formed when the magma inside the Earth comes to the surface as lava from a volcano explodes out and is cooled in the air, as opposed to intrusive rocks which are formed by the flowing of lava from a volcano.
Chemical Composition
As an aphanitic igneous rock basalt is mainly formed of a feldspar called palagioclase, a mineral made up mainly of sodium and calcium which forms into a crystalline lattice. This makes up at least 65 percent of the rock's chemical composition. The remainder is quartz and feldspathoids, a similar material to feldspar, but with lower silica content.
Where Is It Found?
Basalt is a very common rock, with the majority found on the ocean floor. On land, it tends to be found close, but not next to, volcanoes, because of its extrusive construction. Basalt has also been found on the Moon and Mars. Under the Earth's surface, basalt can be found as the top layer on tectonic plates.
Applications
The most common use for basalt is in the construction industry. It is used as building blocks and for formation work. It is also used in artistic sculpture and occasionally for interior design. Rounded basalt stones are also used in massage. It can also be turned into stone wood, used as insulation when heated and extruded at high temperatures.