Here's why:
* Granite's Composition: Granite is a felsic igneous rock, meaning it is rich in silica (SiO2) and has a high proportion of light-colored minerals like quartz and feldspar.
* Melting and Eruption: When granite melts, the molten rock (magma) remains felsic. As it rises towards the surface, it cools and solidifies, forming an extrusive rock.
* Rhyolite's Characteristics: Rhyolite is an extrusive igneous rock with a similar composition to granite. It is also felsic, with high silica content and a light color. It often exhibits a fine-grained texture due to rapid cooling.
Other Possibilities:
While rhyolite is the most likely outcome, there are other possibilities depending on factors like the specific composition of the granite and the conditions during the eruption. These include:
* Dacite: A slightly less silica-rich extrusive rock than rhyolite.
* Andesite: An intermediate composition extrusive rock, typically formed from the melting of both felsic and mafic materials.
However, the high silica content of granite makes rhyolite the most likely result of its eruption.
