Basalt columns of Giant's Causeway, County Antrim

© Olimpio Fantuz/eStock Phot

A rock giant. Giant's Causeway

We’re paying homage today to the geological wonders that are rocks. With us since the beginning, rocks have been key to our survival, used for everything from tools to housing and weapons. A period of our history was so reliant on rocks that it will forever be known as the Stone Age.

We’re going to focus on one marvellous rock in particular: basalt, the most abundant volcanic rock on Earth. Here at the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, there are roughly 40,000 interlocking hexagonal columns of basalt formed after an ancient eruption. According to one Gaelic legend, however, this was built as a battleground for two giants, Ireland’s Finn MacCool and Scotland’s Benandonner. Another legend suggests MacCool built the causeway to cross the North Channel to meet a Scottish lover. Whatever the story, we wouldn’t be where we are today without the many minerals found on our planet, so rock on!