Basalt aggregates are primarily composed of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, iron oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide (with trace amounts of potassium oxide and sodium oxide), with silicon dioxide accounting for approximately 45% to 50%. Basalt is commonly found in black, dark brown, or olive green hues. Its compressive and flexural strength, coupled with its good wear resistance and low water absorption rate, make it an excellent material for architectural decoration. Basalt aggregate is used in the repair of highways, railways, and airport runways, characterized by its high compressive strength, low crushing value, strong corrosion resistance, and asphalt adhesion. Basalt possesses advantages such as wear resistance, low water absorption, poor electrical conductivity, high compressive strength, low crushing value, strong corrosion resistance, and good asphalt adhesion, and is internationally recognized as a solid foundation for the development of railway and road transportation.
Basalt has a wide range of applications, extending beyond the construction industry. It is an excellent raw material for producing "cast stone," which, after melting, casting, crystallization treatment, and annealing processes, forms a new material that is as hard as alloy steel and wear-resistant, and more corrosion-resistant than lead and rubber. Basalt can also act as a "lubricant" in a casting steel process, extending the lifespan of the casting film. Additionally, it can be drawn into glass fibers, and the basalt glass fiber fabric it produces is more alkali-resistant and has better high-temperature performance than regular glass fiber fabric.
