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Igneous Rock Formation
Rocks Recycled
Igneous rock formation can happen when sedimentary rocks are remelted. This takes place at subduction zones. Subduction zones occur when one of the earth's plates moves under another. Any sedimentary rocks sitting atop the subducting plate is pulled down. Tremendous heat is generated as the two plates grind against each other. This heat and the heat of the underlying magma melts the rock.
Volcanoes are usually present along subduction zones. They allow the heat and energy created by the grinding plates to escape to the surface of the earth.
When the magma reaches the surface through volcanoes it cools quickly, a matter of days or weeks.When the magma forms pockets underground it cools much more slowly. This could take thousands or even millions of years.
The rate at which the magma
cools determines the kind of igneous rocks that are formed. Faster
cooling surface lava creates rock that is fine grained or aphanitic. The
rapid cooling doesn’t allow large crystals to form. I addition most of
the gasses are driven off into the atmosphere. This obsidian (below left) is an example of rapid cooling igneous rock.
The slower cooling that takes place underground allows larger crystal formation. The granite that makes up half Dome (above right) in Yosemite National Park is an example of this type of rock formation.
Other igneous rocks are pumice, scoria, gabbro, basalt, ryolite, dacite, andesite and obsidian.
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