Question
If mag ma ha d coo led quickly to form ign eous rock, w 70 uld you expe ct to s ee sm all C rystals or large c rystals? large crystals small cr stals
Answer
3.1
(123 Votes)
Henrietta
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
small crystals
Explanation
To answer this question, we should know about the process of rock formation. When magma cools and solidifies, microscopic crystals begin to form from the mineral components in the magma. 1. The size of the crystals that form as the molten rock solidifies depend greatly on the rate at which the matrix cools down, that is, slow cooling versus rapid cooling. 2. If magma had cooled quickly, such as that which occurs in a volcanic eruption and cools on the earth's surface, we can expect that the mineral crystals would have very less time to grow before the magma solidifies. So, the igneous rock formed would have small crystals. This forms an Extrusive igneous rock, where rapid cooling allows little time for crystals to grow, and as a result the rock may have very tiny crystals or none at all. 3. In conclusion, when magma cools rapidly to form an igneous rock, small crystals would be formed. So, the correct answer is 'small crystals'.