Which type of rock is formed from the cooling of magma?

The formation of igneous rocks is a direct result of the cooling and solidification of magma. When magma, which is molten rock found beneath the Earth’s surface, cools down, it can either solidify slowly beneath the ground, forming intrusive igneous rocks such as granite, or it can erupt onto the surface through volcanic activity, cooling rapidly to create extrusive igneous rocks like basalt. This cooling process is fundamental to the rock cycle and distinguishes igneous rocks from other rock types.

Sedimentary rocks, on the other hand, are formed through the accumulation and lithification of sediment, while metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are subjected to heat and pressure, changing their structure and mineral composition. Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances that make up rocks but are not classified as rocks themselves. Therefore, the characteristics unique to igneous rocks fundamentally depend on the process of cooling and solidification of magma.