What is the result of the cooling and solidifying of molten rock?

The cooling and solidifying of molten rock leads to the formation of igneous rock. This process occurs when magma from within the Earth cools and solidifies either beneath the surface or after an eruption. When the molten rock, known as magma, reaches the surface and erupts as lava, it quickly begins to cool in the atmosphere. This solidification transforms the molten material into solid rock.

Igneous rock is classified into two main types: intrusive, which forms when magma cools slowly beneath the Earth’s surface, and extrusive, which forms when lava cools quickly on the surface. Examples include granite for intrusive igneous rock and basalt for extrusive. Understanding the formation process highlights the importance of cooling and solidification in the rock cycle.

While obsidian and pumice are also types of igneous rock formed from the cooling of lava, they are specific examples rather than the overarching category of igneous rock itself. Lava refers specifically to molten rock that is on the surface, not the solid material created after it cools. Therefore, identifying igneous rock encompasses the broader concept resulting from the cooling process.