Glass-ceramics obtained by the crystallization of basalt

The possibility of obtaining glass-ceramics from basalt from Vrelo (Mount Kopaonik, Serbia) is demonstrated. The parent rock was ground to grain size < 0.4 mm, and then melted at 1250-1300 C. The basaltic glass crystallised at 950 C over a time interval of 3 h caused synthesis of a glass-ceramic material with a microstructure with excellent mechanical properties according to the determined dynamic modulus of elasticity and uniaxial compressive strength. The phase composition of the obtained glass-ceramic material was determined by XRPD using Rietveld refinement and SEM. Two phases were found: pyroxene which corresponds to omphacite and glass with an approximate relationship 69:31.