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  • Visual Glossary of Geologic Terms Basalt

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    Basalt is a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock composed of 40-50% silica that is rich in iron, magnesium and calcium. It makes up most of the ocean floor and is the most abundant volcanic rock type in the Earth's crust. Vesicles form in basalt as gas bubbles get trapped during solidification from molten rock, leaving a characteristic vesicular texture visible on the surface.

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    Visual glossary of geologic terms basalt

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    Basalt is a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock composed of 40-50% silica that is rich in iron, magnesium and calcium. It makes up most of the ocean floor and is the most abundant volcanic rock type in the Earth's crust. Vesicles form in basalt as gas bubbles get trapped during solidification from molten rock, leaving a characteristic vesicular texture visible on the surface.

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    20 views1 page

    Visual Glossary of Geologic Terms Basalt

    Uploaded by

    api-3808551
    Basalt is a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock composed of 40-50% silica that is rich in iron, magnesium and calcium. It makes up most of the ocean floor and is the most abundant volcanic rock type in the Earth's crust. Vesicles form in basalt as gas bubbles get trapped during solidification from molten rock, leaving a characteristic vesicular texture visible on the surface.

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    Basalt

    A dark, fine-grained, extrusive


    (volcanic) igneous rock with a low
    silica content (40% to 50%). Rich in
    iron, magnesium, and calcium. Most
    of the ocean floor is made up of basalt
    This photo was taken
    on one of the lava flows
    and it is the most abundant volcanic
    at Cinder Cones rock in the Earth’s crust.
    National Natural
    Landmark in Mojave
    National Preserve. The image at left
    shows a typical
    vesicular basalt. Vesicles form when gas
    bubbles are trapped in the rock as it Close-up photo
    solidifies from molten basalt. (photomicrograph)
    This close-up photo (photomicrograph) of of a very thin slice
    a very thin slice of basalt was taken of basalt. Click
    here to see entire
    through a microscope with polarized light. slide.
    Although basalt is a fairly homely rock to
    the naked eye, the beauty of its perfectly-formed microscopic
    crystals is revealed under the microscope.

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