Basalt deposits and mining of basalt. Basalt stone: properties of this rock with a photo
Basalt is one of the most widespread outflowing rocks, having a dark gray or black color, has a high density.
History of the stone
The name of this mineral appeared due to the word from the Ethiopian language "basal", which translates as "boiled". The reason for this name is that basalt appeared due to volcanic eruptions.
Basalt was widely used due to the fact that paving stones were made from it for paving streets, as well as squares. Even today, the historical parts of most cities in Russia are paved with paving stones made of basalt.
It is believed that 4 elements are combined in basalt at once - fire, water, earth and air. As a result, a large amount of heat is retained in the mineral, which favorably affects the ability of basalt to thermally affect the body of any person.
The chemical composition of basalt
Basalt contains calcium feldspar, augite, volcanic glass, plagioclase microlites, etc.
Deposits and use
There are rich deposits of basalt in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, India, Iceland, Greenland, Australia, North America, and Africa.
It is used during construction as a rubble stone, a filler for concrete, as a building material in the implementation of paving streets, in the production process of cast stone products. It is basalt that is the main source of crushed stone and acid-resistant powder. It is also popular in the performance of exterior finishing works of buildings.
Types and colors
To date, there are several varieties of basalt.
- Which contains an excess of silica, is called quartz-normative;
- In which there is a lack of silica, is called nepheline-normative;
- In which there is no normative quartz or nepheline, it is called hypersthene-normative.
As for the color scheme, it is mainly shades of black and gray, very rarely - green and red-brown.
Medicinal properties
Today, basalt as an element of treatment is mainly used in the course of stone therapy, which has its roots in ancient times. Stone therapy has a beneficial effect on the state of the immune system as a whole.
A prerequisite for conducting stone therapy is the requirement to preserve the natural appearance of basalt. In addition, the size of the stone affects the medical power of the mineral, therefore, the larger the stone, the more significant a positive effect it has on the health of a person who undergoes stone therapy.
To cleanse the stones after the procedures from negative energy, they need to be washed under a strong stream of cold and always clean water. And in order for the stones to be recharged, they must be placed in dry salt for a while, and then put in the sun.
magical properties
Information about the magical properties of basalt is extremely scarce, if not almost non-existent. It is known that this mineral allows men to experience greater self-confidence, as this mineral carries male energy. There is also an opinion that the stone has a beneficial effect on the strength of the family, strengthening the atmosphere of goodwill and emotional balance.
Which zodiac sign suits
Astrologers do not talk about the negative or positive impact of basalt for representatives of any zodiac sign.
/ Rock Basalt
Basalt is a rock of volcanic origin, formed in the form of basaltic lavas. Chemical mineralogy considers basalt rocks as effusive, natural stones identical to gabbro. The color range of basalt is not very wide, but it has a distinctive black color. The structure of basalt is considered as fine-grained, in some cases glassy. The upper part of basaltic lavas may have some swellings, which were formed during the evaporation of water and gaseous elements from molten magma. Some minerals can accumulate in these swellings, including calcite, prehnite, native copper, and others. As a result of such formations, amygdaloidal basalts can be formed. Individual elements of basalt rocks are so small that they can only be seen through a microscope. Sometimes there are basalts with a porous structure, which makes it possible to consider clearly visible crystalline elements in them. Visible crystals include porphyrated phenocrysts, which are formed from plagioclase or augitome. Basalt deposits look like lava flows that formed during a volcanic eruption. The main effusive rock of the normal series, the most common of all cainotype rocks. The main minerals of phenocrysts are clinopyroxene and calcium plagioclase (N 30-90), sometimes olivine, orthopyroxene; the groundmass is composed of the same minerals (without olivine) and magnetite in glass (or without it). This mineral became basalt from the Latin basaltes, basanites, from the Greek. basanos - touchstone; according to another version, they became basalts from the Ethiopians. basal is an iron-bearing stone. Varieties can be distinguished according to the features of the mineral composition (apatite, graphite, diallag, magnetite, etc.), the composition of minerals (anorthite, labradorite, etc.), the features of the structure and (or) texture, chemical composition (ferruginous, ferrobasalts, calcareous, alkaline - calcareous, etc.). Yoder and Tilley (Yoder and Tilley, 1962) suggested using the nepheline-olivine-diopside-quartz tetrahedron for classification. The activity of silica in the melt is controlled mainly by reactions of the type: These reactions can be divided into 3 groups: Belonging to these groups is determined by the chemical composition of the rock, by the presence of the corresponding normative minerals in the results of petrochemical recalculation using the CIPW method. According to the geodynamic setting, the main types are distinguished: They are usually dark gray, black or greenish-black rocks with a glassy, cryptocrystalline aphyric or porphyritic structure. Small phenocrysts of greenish-yellow isometric olivine crystals, light-colored plagioclase, or black pyroxene prisms are clearly visible in porphyritic varieties against the background of a common cryptocrystalline mass. The size of phenocrysts can reach several centimeters in length and make up to 20-25% of the rock mass. The texture in basalts can be dense massive, porous, amygdaloidal. Tonsils are usually filled with quartz, chalcedony, calcite, chlorite and other secondary minerals - such basalt is called mandelstein. The ground mass is often not crystallized. Aphyric (without porphyritic phenocrysts) varieties are frequent. Basalt flows are characterized by columnar separation. It occurs as a result of uneven cooling of the rock. Marine basalts are often cushion-like. It is formed as a result of the rapid cooling of the surface of the lava flow by water. The incoming magma lifts the formed shell, flows out from under it and forms the next pillow. Basalt is the most common effusive rock on Earth, and on other planets as well. The main mass in basalt is formed in the mid-ocean ridges and forms the oceanic crust. In addition, basalts are typical of settings for active continental margins, rifting, and within-slab magmatism. During the crystallization of basaltic magma at a depth, strongly differentiated, layered intrusions (such as Norilsk, Bushveld and many others) are usually formed. They are composed of various rocks, the sequence of crystallization of which is determined by the dynamics of magma crystallization. First, the highest-temperature minerals crystallize from the melt, and they precipitate to the bottom of the magma chamber. in this case, the melt is enriched in some components and depleted in others. With a decrease in temperature, a change in crystallizing minerals occurs. Layered massifs contain deposits of copper-nickel ores, chromites and platinoids. Basalts are formed during the partial melting of typical mantle rocks - lherzolites, harzburgites, wehrlites, etc. The composition of the melt is determined by the chemical and mineral composition of the protolith, the physicochemical conditions of melting, the degree of melting, and the mechanisms of melting. Basalts are very easily altered by hydrothermal processes. At the same time, plagioclase is replaced by sericite, olivine by serpentine, the groundmass is chloritized and, as a result, the rock acquires a greenish or bluish color. The basalts that pour out at the bottom of the seas change especially intensively. They actively interact with water, while many components are removed and deposited from them. This process is of great importance for the geochemical balance of some elements. So most of the manganese enters the ocean in this way. Interaction with water radically changes the composition of marine basalt. This influence can be estimated and used to reconstruct the conditions of ancient oceans from basalts. During metamorphism in basalt, depending on the conditions, it turns into green shales, amphibolites and other metamorphic rocks. During the metamorphism of basalts at significant pressures, they turn into blue shales, and at high temperatures and pressures into eclogites consisting of pyrope and sodium clinopyroxene - omphacite. Basalt is used as a raw material for crushed stone, the production of basalt fiber (for the production of heat and sound insulating materials), stone casting and acid-resistant powder, as well as a filler for concrete. Basalt is highly resistant to weathering and is therefore often used for exterior decoration of buildings and for the manufacture of outdoor sculptures. Basalt is a natural rock found near volcanoes. Basalt mineral looks like plates or round stones. The color of basalt is dark gray or black, and sometimes there are green shades, which indicates its secondary change. This crystalline natural mineral occupies considerable areas at the bottom of the world's seas and oceans, as well as thousands of square kilometers on land. Basalt is mainly formed from small grains of plagioclase, magnetite and other natural minerals. This breed is distributed on all continents of our planet. There are basalt deposits mainly in mountainous areas. The color range of basalts ranges from gray, sometimes with a green tint, to almost black. The mineral composition of stone from different deposits can differ significantly from each other. In each of the countries, different types of basalt are mined, which are used in various areas of our life. Basalt is a product of crystallization of the main basaltic magma, which rises to the very top from the bowels of the earth along deep faults and volcanic craters. The deposit of basalt mineral significantly affects the state of its surface. The bubbly surface is formed during the cooling of the lava, steam and gas escape through these holes. Various minerals are deposited in the voids: copper, calcium and zeolite. This strong rock is used in construction, and it is also a raw material for casting, which is called stone. The mineral is used as an acid-resistant material in chemical and other industries around the world - for the manufacture of special fittings and pipes that will not be subject to acid attack and destruction by aggressive reagents. There are different types of this rock. Depending on the hardness and strength, they are used in different areas of our life. Crushed stone from basalt is added to concrete, covered with railroad tracks, used when laying asphalt. The powdered mineral is added to reinforced products, from which earthquake-resistant structures are built. This rock is indispensable as a heater in the construction of houses. Since it is a natural material, the walls of buildings will also breathe during operation. Basalt is used to decorate facades and buildings inside in the same way as marble. They make columns, arches from it, line the walls of buildings inside and out. For finishing floors and fireplaces, ceramic tiles are made, obtained by casting from basalt rocks. A strong and elastic thread can be obtained from the mineral, clothes are made from it that are very durable and do not burn, tennis rackets. Basalt is also used for the manufacture of special cardboard, which is resistant to high temperatures and is able not to ignite even at temperatures up to a thousand degrees. Basalt is used in various industries and areas. Advantages of a natural mineral. It has many advantages, the most significant are: Gray basalt mineral, hunted in mine springs and quarries. Basalt is mined by companies associated with the mining industry. The mineral, after withdrawal, is sent in batches to manufacturing plants that will produce a variety of products:Name history
Classifications
Petrochemical classification
2(Mg,Fe)SiO3 -> (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 + SiO2 (orthopyroxene = olivine + silica)
NaAlSi3O8 -> NaAlSiO4 + SiO2 (albite = nepheline + silica)Geodynamic classification
Composition and structure
Prevalence
Origin
Analogues
Changes
metamorphism
Metamorphic rocks with a composition close to basalts are called metabasites.Application of basalt
How basalt deposits of these valuable rocks are formed
Where is basalt used
Application of basalt
Catalog of Minerals
- Basalt - the word basalt (lava) was formed from the Ethiopian word "basal", which means "boiled" in translation, as it is formed in hot vents of volcanoes, in which temperatures reach several thousand degrees. Lava is a volcanic rock formed when hot liquid magma solidifies. Basalt is composed of calcium feldspar and augite or other pyroxene, often with olivine (olivine basalts). Basalt (lava) is a very hard rock, the color is dark, black, gray-black and ashy, it consists of calcium feldspar and its varieties.
- Basically, basalt occurs in the form of lava flows (appearing as a result of an eruption) and in the form of interstratal bodies. There are two types of basalts - those containing olivine and those that do not contain it (tholeiitic basalts).
- In the largest volumes, basalts occur in the form of powerful and extensive lava flows in Western India and on the Columbian Plateau in the US states (states - Washington, Oregon and Idaho). It is found in volcanic regions - Transcaucasia, Kamchatka, Mongolia and Mexico, Italy, Hawaiian Islands, Scotland and Ireland, Iceland and Greenland of Russia (Kuril Islands, Kamchatka)
magical properties
- It is believed that basalt combines all four elements - fire, earth, air and water. In ancient times, in the East, the volcano was considered a symbol of consciousness, as it was born as a result of the combination of four elements - Earth, Fire, Water and. Lava is formed from Earth and Fire, then cooled by Air and flows into the sea (Water).
— It was believed that a piece of lava is a powerful protective amulet and carries male energy, Yang energy. In many nations, lava was considered a magical stone with positive energy and was used in sacred rituals.
Medicinal properties
- In Mongolia, pieces of frozen magma were considered amulets and were used in ancient times to heal wounds. The healing properties of basalt are mainly used in stone therapy (treatment of diseases with the help of stones). keeps heat in itself for a long time, so its thermal effect on the body is maximum. This method of treatment has been known since ancient times, but we have begun to practice it recently.
- Stone therapy strengthens the body's immune system. It is desirable to use dark gray and black rocks for this procedure. It is best to use basalts containing olein.
Basalt is one of the most common natural stones. It is of volcanic origin: after a volcanic eruption, the magma cools quickly, and this is how this rock is formed. No wonder the stone was called in Ethiopia "basal" - "boiled". The Africans believed that it first boiled in a volcano, and only then poured out onto the surface of the Earth. And according to some versions, it is translated as "iron-containing stone." It is sometimes also referred to by the Swedish name "trapp".
Basalt has been used in the construction industry since ancient times. For example, Red Square in Moscow is paved with this stone. It has survived to this day, and this speaks of the durability of the natural rock.
Field
Large deposits of rock are found in India, the USA, the Kuril and Hawaiian Islands, and Kamchatka. Rock deposits are being developed in Russia, Armenia and Ukraine. There is a natural stone not only on Earth. Scientists have recorded its presence on Mars, Venus and even on the Moon.
Composition
Basalt consists of the following minerals:
- volcanic glass,
- plagioclase microliths,
- titanomagnetite,
- magnetite,
- clinopyroxene,
- there may also be hornblende and orthopyroxene.
Although the composition of basalt depends on the deposit, which means that it is not constant.
Structure
The structure of the stone is porous, glassy or cryptocrystalline aphyric, fine-grained, bubbly. He got the bubbly structure from the fact that when lava comes out of a volcano, gases with vapors also come out at the border with the vent, the cavities do not have time to tighten before the lava crystallizes.
Colour
Among other rocks, basalt is easily recognizable, and primarily by its color. The color scheme of natural stone is dark, there are no light basalts - black, dark gray and green, probably closer to a black tint.
Types of basalt
Basalt is a general name and combines many different types:
- Asian - this is an inexpensive stone, it is widely used in interior design, as well as in the architectural industry. Its color can be compared with the color of "wet asphalt";
- twilight - the stone has a dark gray, even black color. I consider it one of the highest quality types among all others, as it is the most resistant to sudden changes in temperature, mechanical influences, resistant to moisture, etc .;
- Moorish - almond stone. It has a green color with a variety of inclusions. Thanks to the original color, it has found application in design solutions.
Characteristics and application
Basalt is a heavy stone, even heavier. If compared with the properties of the same granite, then basalt differs in its plasticity, flexibility and elasticity.
Another feature of this stone is resistance to high (melting point - 1000 - 1200 degrees Celsius, and some rocks melt at 1450 degrees) and low temperatures, as well as to its differences. Resistant stone and to chemicals: acids and alkalis.
- The density of basalt is 2530-2970 kg/m2;
- Water absorption varies from 0.25 to 10.2%;
- Poisson's ratio is 0.20-0.25;
- Specific heat capacity 0.85 J/kg K at 0°C;
- The resistance is in the range of 60-400 MPa….
The use of basalt is wide. First of all, it is interesting as a raw material. And the main scope is construction.
Sandwich panels and tiles are made from basalt. Slabs of natural stone trim fireplaces, monuments. In such cases, of course, limestone is widely used, but in those areas where there is a lot of basalt rock, it is even used to lay the foundation of a structure.
For strength, it is added to the concrete solution for pouring floors, sidewalks, paths, pavements. But there is one drawback - over time, the surface of the coating becomes smooth.
Basalt is an excellent material for making bridge pillars.
Its powder is added in the manufacture of reinforced products so that they are reliable and strong. They carve columns, arches, statues, frames for stairs.
It is easy to work with, so it is highly valued by decorators. It is used in the manual decoration of the ornamental decoration of the external structures of buildings.
Suitable for cladding exterior walls of buildings.
They insulate the facades of buildings. And here it has gained great popularity. Assembled in mats, it is a reliable, durable, resistant to external influences, heat-insulating and noise-absorbing material.
The rock is finely crushed to form basalt chips, melted in a shaft furnace at a temperature of about 1200 ° C (increases fire-fighting properties), then sprayed, this is how basalt fiber is produced. It produces a wonderful heat and sound insulating material - stone or basalt wool - a kind of modern insulation. If compared with silicate wool, then basalt is twice as superior in terms of thermal insulation characteristics. It also has high soundproofing performance. Basalt is used to make fibers for insulating roofs, walls, floors and other surfaces. Basalt chips and dust are used to make anti-corrosion coatings. They are highly resistant to alkalis and acids.
One of the disadvantages of basalt is its low refractoriness. But not for this stone, this property is a disadvantage. Low refractoriness can be turned into the dignity of a stone. It is used in such an industrial field as stone casting.
Basalt is an affordable material, since it has a relatively low cost compared to other natural materials.
Basalt is a very popular stone, which is found everywhere not only in the CIS countries, but also abroad. Regardless, most people don't know what basalt is. This article will provide an answer to this question.
Basalt is an igneous rock. Has the main composition. The name comes from the Ethiopian "basal" - boiled, which means "a stone containing iron." In nature, it can be found in the form of stones of various shapes or in the form of a lava flow.
Most often it has a dark gray, black or greenish-black color. It is in green that basalt is most often found in the photo. The structure is also different. glassy, cryptocrystalline aphyric and porphyritic. In the case of a porphyritic structure, one can notice inclusions of crystals of greenish-yellow olivine, light-colored plagioclase, or pyroxenes that have the shape of black prisms. Inclusions make up from 15% to 30% of the mass of igneous rock. The size of the phenocrysts is several centimeters in length.
Stones can have a dense, massive, almond-like and porous texture. Tonsils can be filled with calcite, chlorite, plagioclase and other minerals. Stones with tonsils are called mandelsteins.
The stone stands out for its unique properties. Among the stones, it is considered the most elastic and plastic. It stretches well, which allows it to be used in the manufacture of things of small sizes.
The melting point of the stone fluctuates 100 to 1500 degrees Celsius. This melting point allows it to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations.
Considering its strength, resistance to shock and temperature changes, one can understand why it is so often used in the design of public spaces and on the street.
How and where is basalt formed?
The main method of stone formation is solidification of magma erupted from the lower layers of the earth. Silicate igneous melt of basalt composition is also taken into account. The origin of magma itself comes from the rocks of the Earth's mantle. The type of the resulting basalt is determined by the composition of the initial substance (rock) from which it is formed. And also this is influenced by the conditions under which it melts and the mechanism of melt escape.
Basalt is an igneous rock found on much of the Earth and other planets. Almost the entire oceanic crust of the planet Earth consists of it. Deposits of this stone are formed in the form of traps - structures that look like stairs. These traps are located on 150,000 square kilometers of the Yenisei and Lena river basins. And also the stone is mined in eastern Siberia.
In addition to the CIS countries, it is mined in America, Brazil, Greenland, Iceland and Australia. Among foreign countries, India is considered the richest in deposits of this stone.
Extraction of stone is carried out in mines and quarries. The mined basalt is sent to enterprises engaged in the manufacture of things using this stone.
Scope of stone use
The areas of application are many. This stone is very common due to the fact that it has great features:
One of the main areas of application of basalt is architectural construction. Due to its good technical characteristics, it can be used for cladding buildings and interior decoration. The characteristics allow you to install basalt products even in open areas under the influence of external negative factors.
It can also be used in construction. For example, to create high-quality building materials and insulation. In addition, its strength is sufficient to build columns and arches out of it. In the production of reinforced structures, basalt powder is added to the product to increase its strength and reliability.
Basalt is a stone that is very popular both in construction and architecture. In addition, there are a huge number of photos of basalt in interior decoration that speak of its popularity in design art.
Basalt stone
