lbs and provides a surface area of 88 20 square inches besides the weight savings the use of basalt reduces bearing stress concentration reduces the need for dowel lubrication and eliminates corrosion concerns the 3 lobe polygon design offers a high lte and low bearing stress with enhance load transfer distribution between dowels as compared to steel dowel 168 as depicted here has a first surface 170 a second surface 172 and a third surface 174 surface 170 and 172 form corner 180 surface 170 and 174 form corner 182 surface 172 and 174 form corner 184 fig3 11 depict a first embodiment of the invention wherein the basalt basket 100 is manufactured from a plurality of basalt strands 102 saturated with a thermosetting polymer which hardens when dried the thermosetting polymer is selected from the group consisting of urethane polyester vinyl ester epoxy phenolic polyimide polyamide polypropylene peek methacrylate or a combination thereof the basket 100 is formed by wrapping the basalt strands around pins 110 which are secured to a forming base 112 the pins 110 are removably positioned within the forming base apertures 116 the wrapping of the strands follows a predetermined pattern to format which when dried forms the.