Basalt columns are most commonly explained as the result of cooled lava from volcanic activity. When molten rock cools, it contracts, causing cracks to form in a regular, hexagonal pattern due to the equal distribution of tension. This natural formation can be seen in famous sites like the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland and the Devil’s Postpile in California. However, there is an alternate theory that suggests basalt columns may not be cooled lava, but instead could represent petrified plant cell f

Basalt Definition, Composition & Uses