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Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock.

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Nathen Hegmann

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2y ago
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13y ago

Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock, which means it has solidified from magma above ground. It is a mafic rock, meaning that it is relatively high in heavier element content, particularly magnesium and iron. Compared to felsic extrusive igneous rocks, like rhyolite, basalt is heavier and darker. Because of rapid cooling, basalt is composed of smaller crystals. Color ranges from greenish-black to black.
Both are igneous rock.

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12y ago

Basalt falls into many different categories:

  • It's an extrusive igneous rock, which means it cools and hardens on the surface rather than underground;
  • It's a volcanic igneous rock, which means it forms from volcanic activity;
  • It's a lava, which means it cools from molten lava (as opposed to ash etc.)
  • It's a basic rock, which means it contains 45-55% silica.
  • It's an aphanitic rock, which means it's very fine-grained.
  • It's a mafic rock, which means it contains dark-coloured minerals.

Hope that helps! Basalt is often found at mid-ocean ridges and at hot-spot volcanoes, like Hawaii. It's also found on other planets: the Moon's "seas" are actually dark patches filled with basalt!

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Wiki User

15y ago

Basalt is a rock. It is formed from lava usually, but not always, from a volcano.

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Wiki User

11y ago

Igneous rock.

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Q: What is a type of rock basalt?
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