1. Igneous Rocks:
* Magma: Melted minerals beneath the Earth's surface form magma.
* Lava: When magma erupts onto the Earth's surface, it is called lava.
* Extrusive Igneous Rocks: As lava cools and solidifies, it forms extrusive igneous rocks like basalt, rhyolite, and obsidian.
* Intrusive Igneous Rocks: Magma that cools and solidifies beneath the Earth's surface forms intrusive igneous rocks like granite and gabbro.
2. Metamorphic Rocks:
* Metamorphism: High temperatures and pressures can cause existing rocks (igneous, sedimentary, or even other metamorphic rocks) to melt partially or completely, recrystallizing into new minerals.
* Metamorphic Rocks: The resulting rocks are called metamorphic rocks, like marble, slate, and gneiss.
3. Minerals:
* Crystallization: As melted minerals cool, they crystallize into new mineral forms. This process can form new minerals that are not present in the original rock or magma.
4. Glass:
* Rapid Cooling: Extremely rapid cooling of molten minerals can prevent crystallization, leading to the formation of glass. This is how volcanic glass like obsidian is formed.
5. Other Substances:
* Volcanic Gases: Melted minerals can release gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.
* Volcanic Ash: The explosive eruption of volcanoes can produce volcanic ash, which is essentially finely fragmented rock.
In essence, the "form" that arises from melted minerals depends heavily on the specific mineral composition, cooling rate, and pressure conditions.
