Flood basalt is formed by an eruption or series of eruptions of large volcanic episodes that cover vast stretches of land or ocean floor with flows of mafic igneous rocks (basalt lava flows).

What causes flood basalts?

Flood Basalts are high volume eruptions that flood vast areas of the Earth, covering broad regions with flat lying lava surfaces. They are said to be the result of mantle convection through hot spots, which occur sporadically in time and place.

How are basalts created?

Basalts are formed by the rapid cooling of basaltic lava, equivalent to gabbro-norite magma, from interior of the crust and exposed at or very close to the surface of Earth. These basalt flows are quite thick and extensive, in which gas cavities are almost absent.