Basalt has been mined for centuries using various techniques, depending on the specific geological location and availability of the material. Here are some common methods used in the past:

1. Quarrying: The most common method of mining Basalt was by quarrying. It involved cutting deep trenches or pits into the ground to access the Basalt beds, then using picks, hammers, and chisels to extract the stone. The blocks of Basalt were then transported to the surface for processing and use.

2. Blasting: When the Basalt beds were too large or too difficult to quarry, miners would use explosives to blast the rock apart. This process involves drilling holes into the rock, ing explosives, and detonating them to break the Basalt into manageable pieces. The debris was then hauled away for further processing.

3. Hand mining: Hand mining involved small teams of miners using picks and shovels to dig tunnels or shafts into Basalt deposits. These tunnels were often cramped and dangerous, but they allowed miners to extract Basalt in areas where other methods werent feasible.

4. Surface mining: In areas where the Basalt was close to the surface, miners would use bulldozers or other heavy equipment to remove the top layer of soil and expose the rock. This method was quicker and easier than quarrying or blasting, but it often caused significant environmental damage.

Overall, mining Basalt was a challenging and labor-intensive process in the past, requiring significant human effort and skill. Today, modern technologies and techniques have made Basalt mining safer, more efficient, and less damaging to the environment.