Basalt Rock Vs Granite

Basalt is common on both earth and other solar system bodies such as the moon and mars while granite is only common on earth and rare elsewhere in the solar system.

Basalt rock vs granite.

Basaltic crust is dark and thin and heavy while granite is light and accumulates into continent sized rafts which bob about like corks in this sea of basalt when a continent runs into a piece of seafloor it s much like a mac truck running into a volkswagon. Properties of rock is another aspect for basalt vs granite. One other difference between basalt and granite pertains to the way these two types of rocks split when putting under pressure. Basalt weathers faster than granite because it is not as hard and it s easier for outside substances to impact and manipulate its structure.

The hardness of basalt is 6 and that of granite is 6 7. Although there are some similarities between basalt and granite there are also significant differences between these two rock types. Weathering how rocks break down can happen in a multitude of ways including adding water and freezing impacting plant roots impact from another object and when minerals expand. Granite is the principal component of the continental crust while basalt is the principal component of the oceanic crust.

Less effort is needed to grind ingredients against a grittier surface such as basalt. Granite is not a traditional molcajete material but in the long run many find it is the material they prefer. Appearance of basalt is dull and soft and that of granite is veined or pebbled. Granite is an intrusive rock with few contaminants while basalt is an extrusive rock with many contaminants.

Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock whereas granite is an intrusive ingenuous rock. Basalt is volcanic or extrusive forming at the surface while granite is plutonic or intrusive forming beneath the surface. Although granite does have some porosity its pores are not large enough to easily accept the salt and garlic used to season molcajetes. When we have to compare basalt vs granite the texture color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock.

Depending on the properties like hardness toughness specific heat capacity porosity etc rocks are resistant to heat wear impact etc granite is heat resistant wear resistant whereas basalt is heat resistant pressure resistant wear resistant.