What are the uses of basalt rock?
Quick Answer
Basalt is most commonly used during construction projects. It can be used as aggregate in asphalt and concrete pavements. It is also used as a road base, railroad ballast and cobblestone pavement. Basalt may be cut into thin slabs and used as monuments, building veneers or floor tiles.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
Dark in color, basalt rock is an igneous rock, which are (rocks produced under intense heat. Its dark color is partly as result of the minerals olivine and aspyroxene. Basalt rock forms when hot lava gets to the Earth's surface. This may be either via a mid-ocean ridge or a volcano. When expelled, hot lava reaches temperatures of up to 1250 degrees Fahrenheit and flows like a thick liquid. However, when the lava cools down, it forms a hard solid rock. The word "basalt" is derived from the Latin word "basalts," which loosely translates to "very hard stone." Depending on the thickness and the location, lava flow may take days or months to completely cool. Basalt rock is Earth's most abundant bedrock, forming a large percentage of the ocean floor and the Earth's crust. The moon, like the Earth, also has a high abundance of basalt rock in its underlying curst.
Learn more about Earth ScienceRelated Questions
-
Q:
What is the geothermal gradient?
A: The geothermal gradient is the gradual warming of layers of rock relative to their distance from the Earth's surface. The average geothermal gradient is an... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are some common nonliving things?
A: A nonliving thing is an object that is not currently alive and has never been alive, such as a sheet of glass, a rock, sand, a sofa or a watch. Nonliving t... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How does weathering change the Earth's surface?
A: Weathering constantly changes the earth's surface by wearing away exposed surfaces, smoothing rough areas of rocks and causing rock materials to break down... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How is oil formed?
A: Oil is formed when organic materials are buried under sedimentary rock; anoxic conditions and intense pressure cause a gradual transformation in petroleum.... Full Answer >Filed Under:
