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An igneous rock forms by solidification of magma. There are two main types: volcanic rocks (subaerial) that crystallize or solidify from erupted lava or fragmental (pyroclastic) material, and plutonic or intrusive rock that crystallizes from magma that did not reach the surface. The two types are distinguished by their grain size: intrusive rocks are coarser grained because they crystallize slowly in an thermally insulated setting whereas volcanic rocks are fine grained or glassy because they cool rapidly following eruption at the Earth’s surface. Common minerals in igneous rocks are olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, mica, feldspar, and quartz. Common intrusive rock types include peridotite, gabbro, and granite; their volcanic equivalents are komatiite, basalt, and rhyolite.
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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Arndt, N. (2011). Igneous Rock. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_773
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_773
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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