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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.

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Quick cooling of magma results in small crystal formation. Slow cooling magma results in larger crystals.

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The main factor that determines the texture of an igneous rock is the cooling rate.

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The faster the mineral crystals in igneous rocks cool, smaller is their size.

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Q: How is the size of mineral crystals in igneous rock related to the rate at which they cool?
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Do igneous rocks have large crystals?

Yes, they can. Extrusive igneous rocks, which form outside the Earth's surface, often contain small or no crystals, because they cool quickly and the particles in the lava do not have much time to arrange themselves. Intrusive rocks, which form inside the Earth, generally have large crystals because they cool slowly. Granite is an example of an igneous rock with large crystals.


The size of the mineral crystals found in an igneous rock is directly related to the?

the rate melted rock cools.


How can you tell the difference between an igneous rock that formed above ground and one that formed below?

Usually, the determining factor is the size of the mineral crystals in the rock. Igneous rocks that have solidified above ground cool quickly and have less time for larger crystals to grow.


Why is it that some igneous rock is made of large crystals and some is made of small crystals?

An igneous rock's crystal size is dependent on how long it takes to cool from magma into a solid. Intrusive igneous rocks, the ones that solidify from magma underground, are slow to harden, giving crystals plenty of time to grow larger. Extrusive igneous rocks, formed from lava above ground, cool fairly rapidly, not allowing the crystals much time to grow in size.


Where did igneous rocks form that have mineral crystals easily seen with the ununaided eye?

Igneous rocks can form anywhere, but some, like granite and gabbro, have particularly large crystals (perhaps 5 or more mm across). These are intrusive rocks, and as they are insulated by a lot of rock around them, cool very slowly, forming large crystals. They form deep, often a few kilometres, below the surface of the earth.

Related questions

Do rocks that cool slowly from magma contain more crystals?

No. They would contain fewer, but larger mineral crystals when compared to igneous rocks which have cooled quickly from lava or magma.


What condition lead of the formation of large crystals in an igneous?

Igneous rocks will develop large crystals is they cool slowly underground.


Do igneous rocks have large crystals?

Yes, they can. Extrusive igneous rocks, which form outside the Earth's surface, often contain small or no crystals, because they cool quickly and the particles in the lava do not have much time to arrange themselves. Intrusive rocks, which form inside the Earth, generally have large crystals because they cool slowly. Granite is an example of an igneous rock with large crystals.


What conditions lead to the formation of large crystals in an igneous rock?

Igneous rocks will develop large crystals is they cool slowly underground.


What conditions lead to formation of large crystals in an igneous rock?

Igneous rocks will develop large crystals is they cool slowly underground.


The size of the mineral crystals found in an igneous rock is directly related to the?

the rate melted rock cools.


What type of igneous rock has large mineral grains?

Intrusive igneous rocks since they have more time to cool, thus more time for the crystals o form and grow. So, examples of such igneous rocks will include:-Granite-Gabbro


How can you tell the difference between an igneous rock that formed above ground and one that formed below?

Usually, the determining factor is the size of the mineral crystals in the rock. Igneous rocks that have solidified above ground cool quickly and have less time for larger crystals to grow.


Do intrusive rocks have large crystals because they cool quickly?

No. Intrusive igneous rocks have large crystals because they cool slowly.


What type of rock is a crystal rock?

Virtually all rock contains mineral crystals of various sizes. Most volcanic rocks such as granite contain crystals of quartz and other minerals. Crystal size varies depending on the speed of cooling.


How are intrusive igneous rocks made?

They are made slowly. This is why they have a coarse-grained or rough texture. On the other hand there are extrusive igneous rocks, which are formed quuickly. These have a fine-grained or smoother texture. Intrusive rocks have more time to cool, so the mineral crystals can grow bigger, but extrusive rocks have lss time for their mineral crystals to grow.Igneous rocks form when magma cools and hardens.


What factor determines if an igneous rock has no crystals small crystals or large crystals?

it depends on the heat, if it cool very quick then it has small crystals but if it cool very slowly than it is bigger the slower the cooling period the bigger the crystals