Basalt (UK: / ˈ b æ s ɒ l t,-ɔː l t,-əl t /; [1] [2] US: / b ə ˈ s ɔː l t, ˈ b eɪ s ɔː l t /) [3] is an aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in
2024410;Basalt’s texture is fine-grained or aphanitic. In addition, some basalts can have other textures like porphyritic, vesicular, poikilitic (subophitic or ophitic), or amygdaloidal.
Many rocks with an overall fine-grained texture display scattered minerals that are more than 1 mm across. This porphyritic texture indicates that the magma sat and cooled a bit below the
2024131;Aphanitic: Fine-grained texture due to rapid cooling (typical of volcanic rocks). Basalt is a classic example of an aphanitic igneous rock. The crystals are so small that they are often not visible to the naked eye.
Basalt has several textural varieties such as glassy, massive, porphyritic, vesicular, scoriaceous. In the Keweenaw we can subdivide textures into three types, following Huber’s example: Porphyrite, Trap and Ophite, applies ideally
Tholeiitic basalt often represents a fine, glassy groundmass consisting of fine-grained quartz and other main constituent minerals. The tholeiitic basalt has fine-porphyritic texture, which is
Thus when olivine forms the primary phenocrysts in a basalt, the name may be refined from basalt to porphyritic olivine basalt or olivine phyric basalt. [5] Similarly, shallow intrusives or
This altered porphyritic basalt sample is from The Battery, a ruined gun emplacement built towards the end of the 1700s during the American War of Independence, at the entrance to
Basalt is the aphanitic or fine-grained equivalent of gabbro. olivine. Consider Bowen''s reaction series. Which mineral would you expect to see as a phenocryst in a porphyritic basalt? True.
The presence of large crystals in a fine-grained groundmass is commonly regarded to indicate that the phenocrystals crystallized slowly during magma ascent or in a magma chamber, before the crystallization of the surrounding
Fine-Grained (Aphanitic): Most basalt has a fine-grained texture, meaning its mineral grains are too small to be seen with the naked eye. This is due to the rapid cooling of lava at or near the
828;Andesite is light to dark grey, bluish-grey, or sometimes a reddish extrusive igneous rock with a fine-grained (aphanitic) to porphyritic texture. It is an intermediate rock
Fine-Grained (Aphanitic): Most basalt has a fine-grained texture, meaning its mineral grains are too small to be seen with the naked eye. This is due to the rapid cooling of lava at or near the
829;Basalt is a fine-grained (aphanitic) dark-colored, mafic extrusive, or volcanic igneous rock. However, it may have a porphyritic texture, and some, like pillow lava basalts, may have a glassy surface with a fine-grained core.
Basalt is a fine-grained, dark-colored extrusive igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene. The specimen shown is about two inches (five centimeters) across. Diorite is a
830;Granite porphyry describes granite rocks with large crystals in a finer-grained matrix but with the same mineralogy and chemistry as ordinary granite rocks. So, porphyry
2024410;Basalt’s texture is fine-grained or aphanitic. In addition, some basalts can have other textures like porphyritic, vesicular, poikilitic (subophitic or ophitic), or amygdaloidal.
202414;In some cases, basalt may be porphyritic, containing visible larger crystals (phenocrysts) in a fine-grained matrix. Physical Properties Density: Basalt is heavier than most
Type Igneous Rock Texture Porphyritic Origin Extrusive/Volcanic Chemical Composition Mafic Color Dark Gray to Black Mineral Composition Calcium Plagioclase, Pyroxene Miscellaneous Calcium Plagioclase phenocrysts in an
Tholeiitic basalt often represents a fine, glassy groundmass consisting of fine-grained quartz and other main constituent minerals. The tholeiitic basalt has fine-porphyritic texture, which is
2024821;Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Basalt is a classic fine-grained (aphanitic) extrusive igneous rock. (By James St. John; CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.) Some igneous rocks
Basalt is a fine-grained and dark-colored rock. Black color is given to basalt by pyroxene group mineral augite. Width of the sample is 12 cm. but some basaltic rocks are porphyritic (lots of
Porphyrite or porphyritic basalt is characterized by obvious crystals, usually of plagioclase, which is often white or tan in color. These crystals are typically interpreted as phases that formed
202457;Porphyritic basalt rocks have large, well-formed grains of calcic plagioclase, augite, olivine, and sometimes hornblende in fine-grained dark-gray to black matrix. The matrix will have mainly calcic plagioclase and augite.
Basalt rocks are mainly composed of pyroxene olivine and plagioclase, these rocks are rich in Magnesium and iron. The most porphyritic minerals in basalt rocks are augite and olivine.
Thus when olivine forms the primary phenocrysts in a basalt, the name may be refined from basalt to porphyritic olivine basalt or olivine phyric basalt. [5] Similarly, shallow intrusives or
It is usually fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava on the Earth''s surface. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is