Classification of igneous rocks

What you learn

Simulation Ages 12–16

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Rocks from melted magma

Igneous rocks form when hot molten rock cools and hardens. They can cool slowly underground or quickly at the surface after a volcano erupts.

Slow cooling gives minerals time to grow large crystals. Fast cooling makes tiny crystals or even glassy rock with no crystals at all.

Sorting igneous rocks

Scientists classify igneous rocks by texture (crystal size) and mineral makeup.

Granite cooled deep underground; basalt cooled quickly from lava on the surface.

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Credits & source

This sim comes from free teaching tools at Javalab.org. We adapted it so you can play offline.

View original on Javalab