The term for magma that solidifies beneath the surface?

Study for the California Science Test. Get ready for the 8th grade exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Prepare with confidence!

Multiple Choice

The term for magma that solidifies beneath the surface?

Explanation:
Intrusion is the term for magma that solidifies beneath the surface. When magma stays underground, it cools slowly and forms coarse-grained igneous rocks such as granite. This underground solidification creates bodies like dikes, sills, and plutons that push into surrounding rock. In contrast, magma that erupts onto the surface becomes lava and then cools to form extrusive rocks—this process is called extrusion. Faulting relates to cracks and displacement in rocks, not the cooling and solidification of magma. So, magma that solidifies below ground is an intrusion.

Intrusion is the term for magma that solidifies beneath the surface. When magma stays underground, it cools slowly and forms coarse-grained igneous rocks such as granite. This underground solidification creates bodies like dikes, sills, and plutons that push into surrounding rock. In contrast, magma that erupts onto the surface becomes lava and then cools to form extrusive rocks—this process is called extrusion. Faulting relates to cracks and displacement in rocks, not the cooling and solidification of magma. So, magma that solidifies below ground is an intrusion.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy