What type of rock is formed directly from cooling?

Igneous rock is formed directly from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. When magma, which is molten rock found beneath the Earth’s surface, rises to the surface and erupts as lava from a volcano, it begins to cool. As it cools, it crystallizes and forms igneous rock. This process can happen either beneath the Earth’s surface, resulting in intrusive igneous rocks (like granite), or on the surface after a volcanic eruption, resulting in extrusive igneous rocks (like basalt).

The other types of rock mentioned have different formation processes. Metamorphic rock is created when existing rocks undergo a transformation due to heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids, which alters their mineral structure without melting. Sedimentary rock is formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediments, which can include minerals, organic material, and other particles, over time. Fossilized rock, while not a distinct category like the others, generally refers to sedimentary rock that contains fossils and has formed from the remains of living organisms, usually under conditions of pressure and time rather than direct cooling.

Therefore, the characteristic that defines igneous rock is its direct formation from cooling magma or lava, making it the most