1. Cooling: Magma, molten rock found beneath the Earth's surface, loses heat. This can happen through various processes, including:
* Conduction: Heat transfer directly from the magma to surrounding rocks.
* Convection: Heat transfer through the movement of the magma itself.
* Radiation: Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves.
2. Crystallization: As the magma cools, the atoms within it begin to arrange themselves into a more ordered structure, forming crystals.
3. Solidification: As the cooling continues, more crystals form, and the magma gradually solidifies into a solid rock.
Types of Rocks Formed from Magma:
* Intrusive Igneous Rocks: Formed when magma cools and solidifies below the Earth's surface. Examples include granite and gabbro.
* Extrusive Igneous Rocks: Formed when lava (magma that reaches the surface) cools and solidifies. Examples include basalt and rhyolite.
The rate of cooling and the chemical composition of the magma will influence the size and type of crystals that form, ultimately affecting the final rock type.
