Have you ever seen a rock and wondered what it’s made of? Let’s discover five incredible igneous rocks facts for kids.
Igneous rocks are rocks that form from cooled and solidified magma or lava. Magma is molten rock that is found deep inside the Earth, and lava is molten rock that erupts from volcanoes. Magma and lava are very hot, and when they cool, they form solid rock.
There are two types of igneous rocks: intrusive and extrusive. Intrusive igneous rocks form when magma cools and solidifies below the Earth’s surface, forming large bodies of rock called plutons. Intrusive rocks are coarse-grained and have visible crystals. Extrusive igneous rocks form when lava cools and solidifies on the Earth’s surface, forming volcanic rocks. Extrusive rocks are fine-grained and have small or no crystals.
Some common types of intrusive igneous rocks include granite and gabbro. Granite is a light-colored rock that is made mostly of quartz and feldspar, and it is often used to make countertops and flooring. Gabbro is a dark-colored rock that is made mostly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene, and it is used for construction and as a decorative stone.
Some common types of extrusive igneous rocks include basalt and pumice. Basalt is a dark-colored rock that is made mostly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene, and it is found on the surface of the Earth’s oceans and is used for construction. Pumice is a light-colored rock that is formed when lava is frothy and it is made mostly of volcanic glass, it is often used as a abrasive or in horticulture as a soil amendment.
Igneous rocks can also tell us a lot about the Earth’s past. By studying the minerals that make up igneous rocks, scientists can learn about the conditions that existed when the rock was formed, such as the temperature and pressure inside the Earth. They can also learn about the composition of the magma and the rate at which it cooled. This can also help scientists understand how the Earth’s surface has changed over time and how the rock was formed.
We hope you enjoyed learning more things about igneous rocks as much as we loved teaching you about it. Now that you know how majestic these igneous rocks are, you can move on to learn more about our amazing Earth like: Water, Rocks, Four Seasons, Seas and Lakes, Miraculous Atmosphere, Tallest Mountain vs Deepest Ocean, Soil Erosion, Food Waste, Energy, Wind Energy, Environmental Sustainability, Deforestation, Floods, Hydro Power, Electricity, Rainbows, Farming, Miraculous Atmosphere, Water Cycle, Earth and Earthquakes.
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