Igneous rock is formed when magma cools(cooling) and turns solid, it may do this above or below the Earth's surface. Magma can be forced into rocks, blown out in volcanic explosions or forced to the surface as lava. The atoms and molecules of melted minerals are what make up magma. These atoms and molecule rearrange themselves into mineral grains as the magma cools, forming rock as the mineral grains grow together. There are over 700 different types of igneous rocks. Examples of igneous rocks include basalt, granite, pumice, obsidian, tuff, diorite, gabbro and andesite. Basalt forms the metamorphic rock granulite when subjected to extreme heat and pressure over time metamorphism.
Vocabu | Igneous |