Here's how it works:
* Melting: Deep within the Earth, temperatures are incredibly high. When rocks are subjected to enough heat, they begin to melt. This molten rock is called magma.
* Cooling and Crystallization: Magma can rise to the surface through volcanic eruptions, or it can cool slowly underground. As the magma cools, the minerals within it crystallize and form new rocks.
* Types of Igneous Rocks: The type of igneous rock that forms depends on the composition of the magma and how it cools. Rocks that cool quickly on the surface (like lava flows) are called extrusive igneous rocks and tend to have fine-grained textures. Rocks that cool slowly underground are called intrusive igneous rocks and often have larger crystals.
Examples of igneous rocks formed from melted rocks:
* Granite: A light-colored, coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock.
* Basalt: A dark-colored, fine-grained extrusive igneous rock.
* Obsidian: A dark, glassy volcanic rock that cools very quickly.
So, heat is a powerful force that can transform existing rocks into new ones!
