Magnesia can trap gas bubbles in the magma chamber of volcanoes because it is viscous and thick. Different minerals crystallize at different temperatures in igneous rocks. If there is a residual ...

ISLA: Traprain Law is an unusual igneous intrusion called a laccolith. Igneous intrusions form when molten rock, or magma, from deep underground pushes up towards the Earth’s surface but cools ...

Volcanoes offer breath-taking views and thrilling adventures. Explore Iceland’s Thrihnukagigur magma chamber, Costa Rica’s ...

igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. These rocks are made of minerals that all have different characteristics. Some will melt into magma or lava – super-hot, liquid rock – when they are ...

Theoretical modeling provides additional valuable constraints on the interpretation of igneous rocks. Petrographic study coupled with laboratory analysis provides the data necessary to estimate the ...

Primary minerals form at elevated temperatures from cooling magma during the original solidification of rock or during metamorphism, and they are usually derived from igneous and metamorphic rocks ...

Volcanic rock is formed when lava or magma cools down and becomes a solid. We call this type of rock igneous rock. Here are three different types of igneous rock from the Museum’s collection.