Here's why:
* Mineral Composition: Basalt is primarily composed of mafic minerals like pyroxene and plagioclase feldspar, which are denser than the felsic minerals (quartz, feldspar, mica) that make up granite.
* Density: Basalt typically has a density of around 2.8 to 3.0 g/cm³, while granite has a density of around 2.6 to 2.7 g/cm³.
Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of water. Since basalt is denser than granite, it also has a higher specific gravity.