More than 90% of all volcanic rock on Earth is basalt. Rapid-cooling, fine-grained basalt is chemically equivalent to slow-cooling, coarse-grained gabbro. The eruption of basalt lava is observed by geologists at about 20 volcanoes per year. Basalt is also an important rock type on other planetary bodies in the Solar System.

Basalt is a dark-colored, fine-grained, igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene minerals. It most commonly forms as an extrusive rock, such as a lava flow, but can also form in small intrusive bodies, such as an igneous dike or a thin sill. It …

Basalt is one of the most common and widespread igneous rocks on Earth, making up much of the oceanic crust and significant portions of continental crust. This dark-colored volcanic rock forms from the rapid cooling of lava at or near the Earth's …

Basalt is defined as a fine-grained, dark-colored igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene minerals, with or without olivine. It is formed from the rapid cooling of basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface of the Earth (extrusive or volcanic rock).

Apr 23, 2023 · Basalt is a type of volcanic rock that is formed from the solidification of molten lava. It is an igneous rock, meaning it is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Basalt is one of the most common rock types on Earth, and it can be found in various locations around the world, both on land and under the ocean floor.

Mar 8, 2025 · basalt, extrusive igneous (volcanic) rock that is low in silica content, dark in colour, and comparatively rich in iron and magnesium. Some basalts are quite glassy (tachylytes), and many are very fine-grained and compact.

Aug 17, 2023 · Basalt is a hard, fine-grained, dark-colored volcanic or extrusive rock. It has primarily calcium-rich plagioclase and augite. Also, it may have minor amounts of other minerals like quartz, olivine, foids, alkali feldspar, biotite, and amphibole. This rock is undoubtedly popular, only rivaled by granite.

Basalt is a dark-colored, dense rock composed primarily of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene. It is the most common rock type found in oceanic crust and is an important component of the Earth’s continental crust.

Feb 2, 2019 · Basalt is the dark, heavy volcanic rock that makes up most of the world's oceanic crust. Some of it erupts on land, too, but to a first approximation, basalt is an oceanic rock. Compared to the familiar granite of the continents, basalt ("ba-SALT") is …

Basalt is a very common dark-colored volcanic rock composed of calcic plagioclase (usually labradorite), clinopyroxene (augite) and iron ore (titaniferous magnetite). Basalt may also contain olivine, quartz, hornblende, nepheline, orthopyroxene, etc. Basalt is a volcanic equivalent of gabbro. Basalt is a fine-grained and dark-colored rock.