BASALT

Basalt is a igneous (volcanic) rock formed from the rapid cooling of basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface of a planet or moon. Basalt is usually grey to black in colour, but rapidly weathers to brown or rust-red due to oxidation of its iron-rich minerals into rust. It almost always has a fine-grained mineral texture due to the molten rock cooling too quickly for large mineral crystals to grow, although it can sometimes be porphyritic Basalt with a vesicular or frothy texture is called scoria, and forms when dissolved gases are forced out of solution when the basaltic lava cools. Besides earth, basalt can be found on Io, moon, mars and venus Basalt is one of the most common rock types in the world. The largest occurrences of basalt are in the ocean floor that is almost completely made up by basalt. Above sea level basalt is common in hotspot islands and around volcanic arcs, for example, Iceland and Hawaii. However, the largest volumes of basalt on land correspond to continental flood basalts. Continental flood basalts are known to exist in the Deccan Traps in India, A flood basalt or trap basalt is the result of a giant volcanic eruption or series of eruptions that coats large stretches of land or theocean floor with basalt lava. Flood basalts have occurred on continental scales (large igneous provinces) in prehistory, creating great plateaus and mountain ranges.

Tholeiitic basalt is relatively rich in silica and poor in sodium. Most commonly found on the ocean floor. High Aluminia Basalt has greater than 17%aluminia. Alkali basalt is relatively poor in silica and rich in sodium. Boninite is a high-magnesium form of basalt that is erupted generally in back-arc basins. The shape, structure and texture of a basalt is diagnostic of how and where it erupted. Subaerial eruptions- Basalt which erupts under open air forms three distinct types of lava or volcanic deposits: scoria; ash or cinder (breccia). Pahoehoe is a highly fluid, hot form of basalt which tends to form thin aprons of molten lava which fill up hollows and sometimes forms lava lakes. Lava tubes are common features of pahoehoe eruptions. Submarine eruptions- Pillow basalts- When basalt erupts underwater or flows into the sea, contact with the water quenches the surface and the lava forms a distinctive pillow shape.

Uses of Basalt Basalt is used for a wide variety of purposes. It is most commonly crushed for use as an aggregate in construction projects. Crushed basalt is used for road base, concrete aggregate, asphalt pavement aggregate, railroad ballast, filter stone in drain fields and may other purposes. Basalt is also cut into dimension stone. Thin slabs of basalt are cut and sometimes polished for use as floor tiles, building veneer, monuments and other stone objects. Basalt fibre- fireproof, more ecologically compatible, can be recycled, new product. Basalt can be made into cable, chopped strands, sheets and fabric.

QUARTZ
QUARTZITE Quartzite is a rock composed of firmly cemented quartz grains. It results from recrystallization of pure quartz sandstone by metamorphosis (so called metaquartzites). Mostly light coloured: white, sometimes light gray, yellowish, light brown. There also exist coloured varieties by included minerals: blue, green, purple, or black. Most quartzites are metamorphic, but there also exists sedimentary quartzite, resulting from cementation of quartz sand by silica-rich groundwater solutions (so called orthoquartzites). Orthoquartzite: mostly very pure quartz (99%) composed of well rounded quartz grains. Original texture and sedimentary structures are usually preserved.

it results from recrystallization of quartz sandstone through metamorphosis. Usually white, but can be found in various shades. It occurs in large masses and is resistant to weathering, so often quartz hills are found. Used in ornamentation and building facades. It is commonly found in usa, uk and Canada.