Skip to main content

What is the difference in appearance between the crystals in igneous rock that cooled slowly and those in igneous rock that cooled quickly?

Igneous rocks are one of the three types of rocks, the other two being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rocks are formed when magma cools down and solidifies. The interior of Earth is very hot and temperatures are high enough to melt rocks. These molten rocks (known as magma) rise upwards and cool down either above the surface of Earth or below the surface.


When the magma cools down below the surface of Earth, it has...

Igneous rocks are one of the three types of rocks, the other two being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rocks are formed when magma cools down and solidifies. The interior of Earth is very hot and temperatures are high enough to melt rocks. These molten rocks (known as magma) rise upwards and cool down either above the surface of Earth or below the surface.


When the magma cools down below the surface of Earth, it has plenty of time to do so and hence the cooling process is very slow. This allows sufficient time for crystal growth and hence these rocks have large crystal sizes. These igneous rocks are known as intrusive rocks or plutonic rocks. An example of an intrusive rock is granite.


When the magma cools down above the surface of Earth, it has to do so rapidly. This means less time for cooling and hence less time for crystal growth. Thus, the crystals of these rocks would be small in size. Such igneous rocks are known as extrusive rocks. Basalt is an example of an extrusive rock. 


Hope this helps. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the probability that a cross between parents who are both homozygous recessive for trait will have offspring that are homozygous recessive...

In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring... In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring will have the disease phenotype. The disease phenotype of sickle cell anemia re...
Post a Comment
Read more