Here are some new pictures to amaze you
On this page I have included some nice pictures of BASALT rock. WHAT is BASALT
Basalt is an igneous rock, normally it is dark grey to black in colour. It's a very hard rock formed due to
cooling of lava. When lava is erupted to the surface, it is subjected to a sudden change in temperature
and cools down very fast. Due to such sudden cooling of lava, the resulting rock has a very fine texture
as there is no sufficient time for it to form any crystals. Basatic lava is low in gas content, thus eruption
is non explosive. The resulting rocks have a very complex chemical composition and is rich in Iron(Fe),
Magnessium(Mg), Calcium (Ca) and low in Potassium (K), and Sodium (Na). The commomn minerals
found in basalt are olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase. A very interesting fact is that, most of the oceanic floor is made up of basaltic rocks. When lava erupts
under the ocean the cooling is much faster than the normal, resulting in very smooth fine textured rocks
and they take the shape of pillow - a charecteristic feature of underwater eruption of lava. And these rocks
are called pillow rocks. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** On this picture page you will see the effect of weathering and erosion on the BASLAT rocks. Although
these rocks are very hard but nature gives them amazing shapes by the process of weathering and erosion.
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This is one of my favorite images
This is my best friend Dr. Miqdad. The picture taken at the place called Hareshwar and is a small town in Maharashtra(India), located near my native town MHASLA. In this picture you can see the amazing power of nature and it is a classic example of wind and water erosion. This place is located at the shore. Huge mountains of basaltic rocks are standing along the sea. When wind blowing from sea, loaded with water vapours from saline sea, hits the rocks it makes a big impact on them. Over the years this results in deterioration of such hard rocks.Fractures are formed along weaker zones and rain water flows along with such fractures. Rain water dissolves carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in its down course and becomes carbonic acid(H20+CO2= H2CO3). This carbonic acid acts as mild acid and along its flow through fractures in the ground further dissolves salts and minerals. This makes rock more weak and fragile. Here in this example you see honey comb structure, this is because rocks here are interveined with siliciuos veins. Such veins mainly composed of silica are very resistent to such weathering and erosion. Weaker zones are formed along such veins. When water with dissolved CO2 and minerals flows along such weaker zones, the rock becomes more fragile. Over the years the resistent veins escape the erosion where as the rest of the rocks gets deteriorated. Big blocks get sepersted along the fracture and fall apart. Thus such wonderful strucures come in to existence. |
A close up of the same rock seen in the picture above
Scroll to the right to see another wonderful image. Here you can clearly see the white colour veins chris crossing the rock that forms the resistant part. |
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This is one of my favorite images
Another closeup of the same rock with cute ASIM sitting on it, giving an idea to the size of cavities created due to weathering in the rock. |
Scroll to the right to see a wonderful example of rock shattering
This is me!!!!!!!!!!!!.
The image to the right gives a good idea of the process of rock weathering. In the process normally hard rocks such as Basalt develops multiple sets of joints resulting in square shaped blocks as seen in the picture. These blocks are then further easily weathered along the edges making the process of weathering faster. Rounded boulders are very commonly seen in basaltic rocks, resulting from such weathering. In Geological term such weathering is called spheroidal weathering, a typical characteristic of Basalt.
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A wider view
This image gives a wider picture of the area. Here one more thing is to be noticed that rocks at the bottom of the mountains are further eroded by sea waves, an another natures agent of erosion. This resulted in caves at the bottom of the mountains. |
Another amusing example of tremendous power of nature
Picture to the right is of world famous DECCAN TRAPS. The picture was taken at Bhor Ghat near Poona (Maharashtra, India). This picture is a very good example of river erosion as well as tectonic activities in the area. Deccan Trap is the historic massive erruption of lava in successive periods. The lava erupted from fissures covering several hundreds of kilometers, this type of eruprion is called fissure eruption. Such eruptions normally covers large areas. In case of Deccan Traps lava erupted once, cooled and then after a period second eruption occured, this cycle repeated several times resulting in thick layers of igneuos rocks in the area. The rocks formed as a result are mainly Basalt.
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Red Soil
After undergoing weathering and erosion, a large portion of basalt rock is leached away and only resistant and heavy part is left behind forming insitu deposits. Such deposits are usually rich in iron and Aluminum. When these residual deposits are rich in iron they are called LATERITE and are red in colour.
And when these residual rocks are rich in aluminum, they are called BAUXITE and are buff in colour.
Both these rocks are used as source for iron and aluminum when found as big deposits. The resulting soil from such residual rocks of basalt is red in colour which is very fertile. The picture to the left shows red soil along a cut in the mountain and the lush green area surrounding it proves the fertile nature of such soil.
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