Volcanic rocks form when magma erupts onto Earth’s surface and cools rapidly. The three primary categories—extrusive igneous rocks, pyroclastic rocks, and volcanic glass—include well-known varieties such as basalt, obsidian, pumice, rhyolite, andesite, and scoria. Each type is defined by its…
Beneath the Earth’s surface, temperatures reach extreme levels—hot enough to melt rock into liquid magma. When that magma finds its way to the surface through volcanic eruptions, it cools and crystallizes into a remarkable range of minerals. These volcanic minerals…
Volcanoes are among the most powerful geological forces on Earth. Most people picture rivers of glowing lava when they think of an eruption—but lava is only one piece of a far more complex picture. Volcanic eruptions produce a wide range…
