What is a basaltic igneous rock?
basalt, extrusive igneous (volcanic) rock that is low in silica content, dark in colour, and comparatively rich in iron and magnesium. basalt.
What is basaltic rock examples?
Basalt is also an important rock type on other planetary bodies in the Solar System. For example, the bulk of the plains of Venus, which cover ~80% of the surface, are basaltic; the lunar maria are plains of flood-basaltic lava flows; and basalt is a common rock on the surface of Mars.
What type of rock is basaltic rock?
volcanic rock
Basalt is a hard, black volcanic rock. Basalt is the most common rock type in the Earth’s crust. Depending on how it is erupted, basalt can be hard and massive (Figure 1) or crumbly and full of bubbles (Figure 2).
Is basaltic rock an igneous rock?
Basalts are common aphanitic igneous extrusive rocks composed of minute grains of Plagioclase feldspar (Labradorite), Pyroxene, Olivine, Biotite, Hornblende, and less than 20% Quartz.
How would you describe basalt rock?
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 has a composition similar to gabbro.
What is made of basalt rock?
Basalt is used for a wide variety of purposes. It is most commonly crushed for use as an aggregate in construction projects. Crushed basalt is used for road base, concrete aggregate, asphalt pavement aggregate, railroad ballast, filter stone in drain fields, and may other purposes.
Where are basalt rocks found?
the oceans
It is found all over Earth, but especially under the oceans and in other areas where Earth’s crust is thin. It formed in the Isle Royale-Keweenaw region because of the Midcontinent Rift. Most of Earth’s surface is basalt lava, but basalt makes up only a small fraction of continents.
Is basalt igneous sedimentary or metamorphic?
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is formed when magma or lava from volcanoes cools. Examples include basalt and granite.
What is the texture of basalt rock?
Porphyritic Basalt
| Type | Igneous Rock |
|---|---|
| Texture | Porphyritic |
| Origin | Extrusive/Volcanic |
| Chemical Composition | Mafic |
| Color | Dark Gray to Black |
What is the classification of basalt?
Basalt 1 Classification. Basalt has a strict chemical definition. It is defined in the TAS diagram shown above. 2 Types of Basalt. Tholeiitic basalt is relatively rich in silica and poor in sodium. 3 Petrology. The mineralogy of basalt is characterized by a preponderance of calcic plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene.
What are the source rocks for basaltic magma?
Source rocks for the partial melts that produce basaltic magma probably include both peridotite and pyroxenite. The shape, structure and texture of a basalt is diagnostic of how and where it erupted—for example, whether into the sea, in an explosive cinder eruption or as creeping pāhoehoe lava flows, the classic image of Hawaiian basalt eruptions.
Is magnetite a type of basalt?
Magnetite crystals are always microscopic in basalt, but sometimes they form black stripes in light-colored sand. Here are heavy minerals (mostly magnetite) as a residue of weathering of basaltic rocks. White Park Bay, Northern Ireland.
What are the most significant examples of igneous rocks?
In this article we will discuss about the characteristics of granite and basalts which are the most significant examples of igneous rocks. Granites are the example of the plutonic intrusive igneous rocks which are formed deep within the earth.