What is the difference between basalt and rhyolite?

Answer 1

Basaltic magma is hotter, denser, and less viscous than most other types of lava. It is poor in silica and rich in iron and magnesium. Eruptions involving it are typically non explosive or only mildly explosive. Many eruptions will form glowing red rivers of lava that cool to form black rock that sometimes turns red when weathered.

Rhyolitic magma is cooler, less dense, and much more viscous than basaltic magma. It is rich in silica, sodium, and potassium. Because of its high gas content eruptions involving it are often highly explosive, producing huge clouds of ash and pumice rather than lava flows. Roks formed from rhyolitic magma are usually light in color.

Answer 2

Basalt is a mafic extrusive igneous rock. Rhyolite is a felsic extrusive igneous rock.

Answer 3

Since basaltic magma has less viscosity than rhyolitic magma, it means that the magma has to be hot in order for in to be runny, therefore making it faster than rhyolitic magma.