Which type of rock has relatively large crystalline regions because they slowly cooled from magma beneath the Earth's surface?

Get ready for the Dual Enrollment Earth Science Test. Study strategically with multiple choice questions that include hints and detailed explanations.

Multiple Choice

Which type of rock has relatively large crystalline regions because they slowly cooled from magma beneath the Earth's surface?

Explanation:
When molten rock cools slowly, crystals have time to grow large, creating a coarse-grained texture. That slow cooling happens when magma solidifies underground, producing intrusive igneous rocks such as granite. Hence, the rock type described is igneous. If cooling were rapid at the surface, you’d get small crystals or a glassy texture, and the other rock types (sedimentary from compacted sediment, metamorphic from alteration under pressure and heat) don’t form by magma cooling.

When molten rock cools slowly, crystals have time to grow large, creating a coarse-grained texture. That slow cooling happens when magma solidifies underground, producing intrusive igneous rocks such as granite. Hence, the rock type described is igneous. If cooling were rapid at the surface, you’d get small crystals or a glassy texture, and the other rock types (sedimentary from compacted sediment, metamorphic from alteration under pressure and heat) don’t form by magma cooling.

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