Plutonic rock tends to have large crystals because it solidifies deep underground, where the overlying material insulates it so that it cools slowly, allowing time for large crystals to form.
Volcanic rock tends to have small crystals (or to be amorphous) because it solidifies above ground, where air and water can cool it quickly by convection. Rapid cooling does not allow time for crystals to grow large.
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The size of the crystals is a function of the rate of cooling of the molten rock. The faster the molten rock cools, the smaller the crystals will be.
You would expect to find an igneous rock with small crystals near the Earth's surface where the rock cools relatively quickly, such as in volcanic eruptions or magma intrusions that do not have much time to grow large crystals. These rocks are known as volcanic or extrusive igneous rocks.
The black volcanic rock with small crystals is most likely basalt. Basalt is fine-grained and is commonly found in volcanic regions as a result of solidified lava flows. The small crystals are often composed of minerals such as plagioclase and pyroxene.
Igneous rocks can contain both small and large crystals, depending on how quickly they cooled from molten material. If they cooled slowly beneath the Earth's surface, they tend to form large crystals, as seen in rocks like granite. Conversely, if they cooled rapidly on the surface, such as in volcanic eruptions, they typically have small crystals or a glassy texture, as seen in rocks like basalt.
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Most generally, an igneous rock with small crystals formed from the cooling of lava on the surface of the Earth would be classified as basalt.
No, small crystals form when magma cools rapidly because there is not enough time for large crystals to grow. Rapid cooling results in a fine-grained texture, where smaller crystals have less time to grow before the rock solidifies. This is commonly seen in volcanic rocks like basalt.
Place the crushed rock and gem material into rotating drums filled with water. The water will disintegrate the small bits of volcanic material, leaving only diamond crystals intact. Add ferro-silicon sand to the mixture of water and ore to further separate the diamond crystals from the volcanic material.
Small crystals are called microcrystals. These tiny structures are often too small to be seen or examined without the aid of a microscope.
No, shale is a sedimentary rock formed from the accumulation of clay, silt, or mud particles that have been compacted over time. It is not formed from volcanic activity like lava. Shale typically has very fine-grained particles, not crystals.
The presence of large and small crystals in igneous rock indicates a varied cooling history of the magma from which the rock formed. Large crystals suggest that the magma cooled slowly, allowing time for the crystals to grow, typically occurring in intrusive (plutonic) environments. In contrast, small crystals indicate rapid cooling, which is characteristic of extrusive (volcanic) environments. This mixed texture may point to a complex cooling process, such as the mingling of different magma types or changes in cooling rates during the rock's formation.
Intrusive rock normally has visible crystals. Extrusive igneous rock has small crystals. A black extrusive igneous rock with small crystals could be basalt.