Which type of rock forms when magma cools and solidifies?

Prepare for the Praxis II Elementary Content Knowledge Exam (5018) with flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which type of rock forms when magma cools and solidifies?

Explanation:
Igneous rock forms when magma cools and solidifies. This process can occur either beneath the Earth's surface, resulting in intrusive igneous rocks, or at the surface following a volcanic eruption, leading to extrusive igneous rocks. The cooling of magma allows the minerals within to crystallize, creating various types of igneous rock like granite or basalt, depending on the rate of cooling and the chemical composition of the magma. Metamorphic rock, on the other hand, originates from the transformation of existing rock types (either igneous or sedimentary) through heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids. They do not form from the solidification of magma. Sedimentary rock is formed through the accumulation and compaction of sediments or the precipitation of minerals, rather than from cooled magma. The term "elemental rock" does not describe a recognized category of rocks in geology, which further clarifies why igneous rock is the correct answer to the question regarding the solidification of magma.

Igneous rock forms when magma cools and solidifies. This process can occur either beneath the Earth's surface, resulting in intrusive igneous rocks, or at the surface following a volcanic eruption, leading to extrusive igneous rocks. The cooling of magma allows the minerals within to crystallize, creating various types of igneous rock like granite or basalt, depending on the rate of cooling and the chemical composition of the magma.

Metamorphic rock, on the other hand, originates from the transformation of existing rock types (either igneous or sedimentary) through heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids. They do not form from the solidification of magma. Sedimentary rock is formed through the accumulation and compaction of sediments or the precipitation of minerals, rather than from cooled magma. The term "elemental rock" does not describe a recognized category of rocks in geology, which further clarifies why igneous rock is the correct answer to the question regarding the solidification of magma.

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