ClimateAugust 13, 2026
basalt
buh-SALT
Definition
A dark-colored, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms a thick layer over much of the Columbia Basin in Central Washington.
Etymology
The word comes from the Latin 'basaltes,' which was a term used by Pliny the Elder to describe a very hard black stone found in Ethiopia.
In the news
The article mentions that a thick layer of basalt covers much of the Columbia Basin, which creates significant challenges for drilling down to the hotter basement rock needed for geothermal energy.
Chelan PUD explains why geothermal may fit Central Washington
Read the full article ↗Cashmere Valley Record