Basalt

Basalt is a volcanic stone that has been used in architecture for centuries. Basaltina, one of the premium basalts in Stone Source's catalog of materials, has a particularly rich history. It is quarried near Rome and was used by the ancient Romans to build roads and monuments. Examples of its uses in architecture can still be seen still today.Basalts are rich in magnesium, feldspar, pyroxene and iron, with hints of olivine and amphibole; all of which are siliceous materials similar to those in a granite. Although Basalts boast the durability of a granite, they tend to have the consistent coloration, markings and subtlety of a limestone. The fissures and small holes in the surface are evidence of the earth's natural gasses flowing through and escaping from the stone. These holes can be left in their natural state or can be filled, depending on the use of the stone and the clients' aesthetic preference.