Recrystallization
Igneous rocks that have mineral crystals easily seen with the unaided eye formed from slow cooling and crystallization of magma deep underground or at the Earth's surface. The slower the cooling process, the larger the mineral crystals can grow, resulting in rocks like granite and diorite with visible crystals.
The grain size of plutonic rocks is generally coarse, with individual mineral grains typically larger than 1 mm in size. This is due to the slow cooling and crystallization process of magma beneath the Earth's surface, allowing for the growth of larger crystals.
The size of crystals in a mineral can indicate the rate at which the mineral cooled or crystallized. Larger crystals typically form when the cooling process is slow, allowing more time for the atoms to arrange themselves into an ordered structure. Smaller crystals are often associated with rapid cooling, preventing the atoms from organizing into larger structures.
Slow cooling of granite results in larger mineral crystals forming in the rock. This process produces a coarse-grained texture in the granite, giving it a distinct appearance with visible crystals such as quartz, feldspar, and mica.
Variations in pressure, temperature, and cooling rate during the rock formation process can result in different crystal sizes within the same rock. Rapid cooling tends to produce smaller crystals, while slower cooling can lead to the formation of larger crystals. Additionally, the presence of impurities or the availability of space for crystal growth can also influence crystal size within a rock.
When igneous rocks cool quickly, they have small crystals and have a texture that may be described as aphanitic. When igneous rocks cool slowly, they have much larger crystals and have a texture that may be described as phaneritic or pegmatitic.
The cooling rate of the magma is the factor that most influences the size of mineral crystals in igneous rocks. Slower cooling results in larger crystals, while faster cooling leads to smaller crystals.
Intrusive igneous rocks tend to be coarser in texture because they form from magma that cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface, allowing larger mineral crystals to grow. In contrast, extrusive igneous rocks cool quickly on the surface, resulting in a finer texture with smaller crystals. Therefore, if larger mineral crystals are present, they are typically found in intrusive igneous rocks.
Temperature doesn't really affect the crystal size; the rate of cooling is the major factor. The faster the mineral, rock, etc. (whatever has the crystals) cools, the smaller the crystals- the slower the larger. If you were "growing" crystals with a set, the warmer the temperature generally means the larger the crystals.
During metamorphism, crystals can grow larger through a process called recrystallization, where existing minerals rearrange their atoms to form larger crystals. This can happen due to changes in temperature, pressure, or the presence of fluids in the rock. So, yes, crystals can grow larger during metamorphism.
The small crystals likely formed due to rapid cooling of the molten rock or solution from which the mineral precipitated. This rapid cooling did not allow enough time for the crystals to grow larger, resulting in the formation of small crystals.
True. When magma cools quickly, such as during a volcanic eruption, there is less time for mineral crystals to grow, resulting in smaller crystals. Conversely, slower cooling allows for larger crystals to form, as there is more time for the minerals to crystallize and arrange themselves.