Basalt is a volcanic rock and one of the well-known variants of igneous rocks. Dark in color and having a fine grain texture, the minerals that compose this rock are pyroxene and plagioclase. Commonly basalt rocks are formed as a result of extrusive processes like a condensation of lava. They might also form in small bodies like igneous dikes or sills and amount to intrusive formations.
Basalt is the most commonly found rock on the Earth’s surface. It is more common on the ocean floor than on the surfaces of continents. Basaltic rocks are of various kinds and are used for a variety of purposes.
Listed Below Are 7 Different Ways in Which Basalt Can Be Used
#1. Construction Purposes:
Being a rich source of iron, basalt is used as an ingredient of concrete. basalt rocks find a major part of their usage in various construction purposes. Basalt in its crushed form may be used for making asphalt pavements, filter stones in drain fields, railroad ballast, road bases, concrete aggregates, and suchlike products. From ancient times, basalt has found wide use in purposes like building parts of stadiums and amphitheaters, making seats and other activities. The rock also finds use in mills for the purposes of grinding.
#2. Tiling:
Basalt is also useful in being used for floor tiles, building veneers and other stone objects. basalt rocks are processed and then cut into thin slabs for the above-mentioned processes. Another use of the rock is in making dimension stones.
#3. Rich Source of Minerals:
In a particular kind known as tholeiitic basalt, minerals like pyroxene and plagioclase are present. Pyroxene in their processed states has a glass texture and is used for making gemstones or in ceramics. Plagioclase is used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics. The plagioclase found in basalt rocks is quite rich in calcium and an important source of the mineral.
#4. Magnetic Properties:
There are a lot of accessory minerals present in basalt. The important ones include iron oxides and iron-titanium oxides. The latter compositions include magnetite, ulvospinel, ilmenite and suchlike oxides. The presence of such oxides renders strong magnetic characteristics to basalt once it cools. Because of this magnetic character, basalt rocks are very useful in the study of paleomagnetism.
#5. Agricultural Uses:
Basalt is extremely rich in iron and basaltic soils are normally clay based and extremely rich and fertile for growing crops. Volcanic basalt produces a rock dust that has proved to be very reliable for improving and building soil health. The use of basaltic rock dust proves to be a completely natural way to increase yields of crops, boost root systems, and increase general plant health in a wide range of crops and agricultural conditions. It is heavily relied upon by farmers as a non-artificial and healthy means of improving the health of plants and crops naturally.
#6. Industrial Uses:
A very important application of basalt includes acid-resistant equipment for heavy industrial use. Various other products that are industrially made from basalt include basalt plastic pipers, rock wool, basalt plastic reinforcement bars, basalt fibers, heat insulating basalt fiber, roofing felts, and several other such industrial yields. After being melted, composites of basalt go into the manufacture of rebars and pipes that a particular type may be used in constructing blades of wind turbines.
#7. Medical Purposes:
Basalt rocks find uses in the medical industry as well. Ophitic basalt, that is a kind of texture formed as a result of ponding of lava and undergone slow cooling, has a lot of use for orthopedic purposes in the medical industry.
Judiciously Using Basalt
Being a geological substance formed out of volcanic processes and covering large surfaces of the Earth’s surface especially oceanic beds, basalt is found in abundance. With its right uses detected, this particular geological formation helps in a lot of humankind’s day to day requirements. for knowing more information about basalt rocks, please visit here for further information.