Basalt

Basalt (pronounced /bəˈsɔːlt/, /ˈbæsɒlt/, /ˈbæsɔːlt/, or /ˈbeɪsɔːlt/) is a common extrusive igneous (volcanic) rock formed from the rapid cooling of basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface of a planet or moon. Flood basalt describes the formation in a series of lava basalt flows.

Definition

By definition, basalt is an aphanitic (fine-grained) igneous rock with generally 45-55% silica (SiO₂) and less than 10% feldspathoid by volume, and where at least 65% of the rock is feldspar in the form of plagioclase. It is the most common volcanic rock type on Earth, being a key component of oceanic crust as well as the principal volcanic rock in many mid-oceanic islands, including Iceland, Réunion and the islands of Hawaii. Basalt commonly features a very fine-grained or glassy matrix interspersed with visible mineral grains. The average density is 3.0 gm/cm³.

Basalt is defined by its mineral content and texture, and physical descriptions without mineralogical context may be unreliable in some circumstances. Basalt is usually grey to black in colour, but rapidly weathers to brown or rust-red due to oxidation of its mafic (iron-rich) minerals into hematite and other iron oxides and hydroxides. Although usually characterized as "dark", basaltic rocks exhibit a wide range of shading due to regional geochemical processes. Due to weathering or high concentrations of plagioclase, some basalts can be quite light-coloured, superficially resembling andesite to untrained eyes. Basalt has a fine-grained mineral texture due to the molten rock cooling too quickly for large mineral crystals to grow; it is often porphyritic, containing larger crystals (phenocrysts) formed prior to the extrusion that brought the magma to the surface, embedded in a finer-grained matrix. These phenocrysts usually are of olivine or a calcium-rich plagioclase, which have the highest melting temperatures of the typical minerals that can crystallize from the melt.

Columbia River

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It flows northwest and then south into the US state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state of Oregon before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The river is 1,243 miles (2,000 km) long, and its largest tributary is the Snake River. Its drainage basin is roughly the size of France and extends into seven U.S. states and a Canadian province.

By volume, the Columbia is the fourth-largest river in the United States; it has the greatest flow of any North American river draining into the Pacific. The river's heavy flow and its relatively steep gradient gives it tremendous potential for the generation of electricity. The 14 hydroelectric dams on the Columbia's main stem and many more on its tributaries produce more hydroelectric power than those of any other North American river.

Goliath (Tom Foster)

Thomas Foster is a fictional comic book superhero published by Marvel Comics, and is the fifth person to hold the mantle of Goliath. He was created by Reginald Hudlin, Greg Pak and Koi Turnbull, he first appeared in Black Panther vol. 3 #23 (December 2006).

Publication history

Tom Foster made his first appearance in Black Panther #23. He subsequently succeeded in gaining superpowers and becoming Goliath in World War Hulk: Aftersmash #1, before appearing to join Damage Control in the same issue.

Greg Pak on Tom Foster's creation

On the creation of Foster, Pak stated:

Fictional character biography

Tom Foster was introduced in Black Panther #23, when he and his family were visited by King T'Challa and Queen Ororo of Wakanda, following the murder of his uncle Bill Foster during the superhero civil war. Angry at the pro-registration forces for his uncle's death, Tom swore to continue his legacy by replicating the Pym Particles which give Bill his powers. To this end, T'Challa swore to assist him in any way he could, once Tom finished his studies at M.I.T.