Igneous Rocks Facts
Igneous Rocks Facts
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Interesting Igneous Rocks Facts: |
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When magma rises to the surface of the Earth and hardens, it forms extrusive igneous rock. |
Extrusive igneous rock tends to be glassy in texture because their formation occurs very rapidly. |
Examples of extrusive igneous rock include pumice and basalt. |
Pumice is an extrusive igneous rock used in many products such as toothpaste, cement, and cosmetic products |
Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock used in constructing buildings and statues. |
Extrusive rocks are also referred as volcanic rocks because volcanoes are important in their formation. |
When magma cools and hardens below the Earth's surface, an intrusive igneous rock forms. |
Because the process of the formation of intrusive igneous rock occurs slowly, these rocks tend to have a grainy texture. |
Examples of intrusive igneous rock include granite and gabbro. |
Granite is an intrusive igneous rock used as for making gravestones, statues, and countertops because it is very durable. |
Gabbro is an intrusive igneous rock that often contains profitable amounts of gold, chromium, and silver. |
Plutons are bodies of intrusive rock which are usually composed of granite. |
When intrusive rocks form huge bodies such as those found in the core of mountains, they are referred to as batholiths. |
Ninety-five percent of the Earth's crust is made of igneous rock. |
There are over 700 different kinds of igneous rocks that have been identified. |