How are igneous rocks formed?

[WandaJarma]

I’m trying to understand how are igneous rocks formed because the process seems interesting but a bit confusing. Is it mainly due to cooling magma, or are there different ways they develop? Also, how do they end up with such different textures? If someone can explain it simply, that would help a lot.

 

[DustinSkibe]

Igneous‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ are the rocks that are made from a molten material called magma or lava that is cooled and solidified; the rocks that are formed by the cooling of magma inside the Earth are called intrusive rocks and they have bigger crystals whereas the rocks that are formed after the lava has cooled on the surface are called extrusive and they have much smaller ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌crystals.

 

[Boogyman]

Think of magma like hot pizza cheese.
If you let it cool slowly in the box = stretchy big chunks.
If you drop it on the cold counter = BAM, solid in seconds.
Igneous rocks form the same way slow = big crystals, fast = tiny crystals.
Geology is basically fancy cooking.

 

[ShawneeBav]

The process of igneous rock formation occurs when molten rock known as magma undergoes cooling to become solidified. The process of slow underground cooling of intrusive rocks results in granite formation which develops its large crystals. The surface cooling of lava produces basalt rocks which develop small crystals because of their fast cooling process.

 

[Jacks will]

Igneous rocks form when magma (molten rock) cools and solidifies, either below the Earth’s surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as lava during a volcanic eruption, creating extrusive rocks. The cooling rate affects crystal size—slow cooling underground makes larger crystals, while fast cooling at the surface makes fine grains.

 

[Michael Anderson]

Igneous rocks form when molten rock—magma or lava—cools and solidifies. Slow cooling underground creates large-crystal intrusive rocks, while fast cooling on the surface creates fine-grained extrusive rocks.

 

[simran]

Igneous rocks form when molten rock (magma or lava) cools and solidifies, either deep underground or after erupting onto the surface.

 

[CleoVosbur]

Igneous rocks form when the ratio of some hot molten magma or lava cools down and harden forming coarse grained intrusive rocks or fine grained extrusive rocks.