Columnar Basalt

Basalt columns are most commonly explained as the result of cooled lava from volcanic activity. When molten rock cools, it contracts, causing cracks to form in a regular, hexagonal pattern due to the equal distribution of tension. This natural formation can be seen in famous sites like the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland and the Devil’s Postpile in California. However, there is an alternate theory that suggests basalt columns may not be cooled lava, but instead could represent petrified plant cell f

Basalt - the composition of the lava erupting from the most recent volcano in Iceland. I LOVE lava ❤️🥰🌋, especially basalt. It forms when you have partial melting of the mantle. The melt is basaltic in composition… it’s light and buoyant and wants to make its way to the surface Finding the easiest path to get there. It’s seeps through the crust with cracks towards the surface, some crystallising in intrusive volcanic settings, such as magma chambers, dykes and sills. For the magma, that does m

Granite vs. Basalt Formation