Photo by amandabhslater
Basalt is a very hard, black igneous rock that can be found all over our solar system and over our planet. Its name is derived from the Latin for very hard stone, and can also be found on Mars and Earth’s moon. Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock, which forms from volcanic lava that rapidly cools at the surface of Earth. Due to the very low amounts of lighter colored silicate minerals, and high amounts of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide, it’s generally black in color. Basalt has a few industrial applications, including thermal insulators and building materials. In this article, we will discuss all the uses of this material.
Ancient uses
In ancient Rome, basalts were used for many purposes, such as street pavers. Additionally, they were used extensively for many construction purposes, such as stadium seating. There are many examples from this era, like the dark-colored stones which are found in the historic ruins. Gardeners use basalt to prevent the spread of seeds in flower beds and plants. It is also used for the railroad ballast. These stones can provide drainage and are used for support. Basalts are placed as bedrocks for the racks of railroads.
Modern uses
Today, basalt is used for many things. One of the most common uses of basalt is aggregates. Crushed basalts are used for construction purposes, such as concrete aggregate, asphalt paving, and rock filtering agents. They are added as aggregates to increase the strength of concrete. In addition, basalt slabs are cut into dimensions and used as flooring veneers and coverings. They can also be used for monuments as well as other things.
Basalts can also be used as wall panels, countertops, fireplaces, and worktops among others. They are also great as interior decoration and decorative stone. The insulating property is one notable characteristic of basalt. Basalt’s thermal protection exceeds other organic substances’ thermal properties. Its heat insulation value is 3 times more than the asbestos and without the toxic hazards. Friction characteristics of basalt are an excellent replacement for asbestos.
The tensile strength of basalt is greater than of carbon fiber and fiberglass and is lesser than of carbon steel. Basalt’s melted composites can be used for producing pipes, the rebar used in the power turbine blades, and construction. Basalt has become popular among sculptors, with its properties, such as fine-grained hardness as well as homogenous grey color. Many Moai icons, which can be found on Easter Island, are made of basalt.
In addition, the Rosetta Stone in Egypt, which is used to interpret the hieroglyphics, is also made up of basalt. During the Roman and the German empires, basalt was widely used, from jewelry and vases to the beautiful columns.
Conclusion
Basalt is used for many things. They are plenty on the planet’s crust and many people have benefited from basalt. Since basalt is something that the vast majority of fabricators have no experience of, one should be careful when choosing a proposed fabricator for this material.
