
Specimen of the weekIgneous rock
Basalt
Basalt is the everyday rock of planetary volcanism. It is the most common volcanic rock on Earth, and much of the ocean floor is basaltic.
- Rock type
- Extrusive igneous rock; volcanic equivalent of gabbro.
- Composition
- Mafic. Basalt is typically low in silica compared with felsic rocks and rich in iron and…
- Texture
- Usually fine-grained or partly glassy because it cools quickly at or near the surface.…

















