Our planet Earth consists of many minerals - rocks . Many of these minerals are solid . Such natural bodies can form polyhedrons - crystals.
The remaining minerals are liquid . These include mercury , water , oil. There are also gas ones . These are methane and carbon dioxide .
Igneous rocks
In the bowels of the Earth is a red-hot liquid substance - magma. It contains all chemical elements, volatiles and vaporous water.
Having poured out, the magma slowly cooled and became solid. So magmatic rocks appeared.
On the surface they can not be found: they are covered with other rocks and sediments.
Igneous rocks are also called crystalline, since most of their representatives have a crystalline structure.
Types of igneous rocks
Magma can pour out in the depths of the earth, and maybe close to the surface, and directly on it. The type of igneous rock will depend on this.
If magma poured deep underground (5-40 km), then such rocks are called intrusive. The most famous representative of them is granite.
Intrusive rocks are dense, with a full crystalline structure.
If the substance emerged on the surface or close to it (no deeper than 5 km), then the rocks formed are effusive. These include basalts, pumice, porphyry and others.
Basalt: the appearance and properties of stone
Basalt is also called volcanic stone. Its physical properties, such as strength and density, are highly regarded in industry.
Some people are also convinced of its magical properties and beneficial effects on the body.
Basalt is an effusive rock. When a volcano erupts, basaltic lava passes through cracks in the earth's crust and pours out on the surface. Then it cools and turns into a volcanic stone.
Basalt is black or dark gray in color, granular in structure.
There are basalt volcanoes, thanks to which an effusive rock - basalt appears. Among them are volcanoes in Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, as well as Vesuvius.
The birthplace of basalt is Ethiopia. There he was first discovered and appreciated useful properties. This effusive rock also got its name from Ethiopia. Translated from the local language, "basalt" means "boiled."
Basalt is mined all over the world: in the USA, Canada, Russia, India, South Africa and other countries. Scientists believe that huge deposits of volcanic stone are at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. However, while there is no need to get it in the ocean: on land this breed is enough.
Domestic use
Volcanic stone is used for the following purposes:
- Warming houses. Plates are made from basalt, which insulate the walls of houses. Of the advantages - there are no carcinogens, it doesn’t catch fire, it removes condensate, it is durable. Of the minuses - the high cost.
- Flooring. The floors, facades of houses, fireplaces are laid out with stone. The use for these purposes has a disadvantage: basalt is quickly polished and begins to slide.
- Sports equipment coverage. Basalt covers skis, rackets, snowboards. Sports equipment gains strength and flexibility, while having a thin coating.
- Making jewelry. The stone is not very popular in jewelry. Women buy it unprocessed or in the form of beads and more often only because of its medicinal properties. Men prefer to take a stone in the form of beads.
Basalt is also used in asphalting, construction and other works.
Healing and magical properties
It is believed that volcanic stone has miraculous abilities.
The effects of basalt on all groups of people are as follows:
- Soothes anxiety, anxiety, nervous tension before an important event.
- Improves brain function, reveals mental potential.
- Beneficial effect on attention, improves concentration.
- Protects from negative manifestations (aggression, anger, tantrums), keeping the owner in a pacified state.
- Gives a person energy, thereby improving performance.
It is useful for a woman to wear a stone when she is planning a pregnancy or is already bearing a child. It is believed that bonding with the earth allows basalt to promote a healthy pregnancy.
The breed is also used for therapeutic massages, as it stores heat for a long time. Stones polished to the shape of a ball are preheated to 55 degrees Celsius. This procedure eliminates diseases of the joints and cardiovascular system.