Definition
A dark, fine-grained volcanic rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava, composed primarily of iron and magnesium minerals. Basalt is the most common igneous rock on Earth and makes up the ocean floor.
Example Usage
The volcanic islands were built from thick layers of basalt that had cooled from ancient lava flows.
Origin
From Latin 'basaltes,' derived from Greek 'basanites lithos' (touchstone), named after a black stone used for testing metals in ancient Egypt.
Fun Fact
The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of roughly 40,000 polygonal basalt columns created by ancient lava flows.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
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