Igneous Rocks Quiz

Igneous Rocks Formation

• Igneous rocks are formed from magma or lava, which is molten rock from the Earth's interior.
• Igneous rocks can be found at the Earth's surface, including volcanic regions, mountain ranges, and the ocean floor.

Plate Tectonics

• The theory that states the Earth's crust is broken up into plates is called plate tectonics.
• The massive sections of the Earth's crust are called tectonic plates.

Magma and Volcanic Activity

• Magma that reaches the surface of the Earth is called lava.
• The formation of igneous rocks is linked to volcanic activity and plate tectonics.

Tectonic Plate Movement and Igneous Rock Formation

• The process of igneous rock formation is linked to the movement of tectonic plates, particularly at diverging and converging plate boundaries.
• At diverging tectonic plate boundaries, magma rises to the surface and solidifies, forming igneous rocks.
• The type of tectonic plate movement responsible for the formation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is divergent motion.
• At converging plate boundaries, oceanic crust is pushed below continental crust at a subduction zone, resulting in the formation of igneous rocks.
• The convergence of tectonic plates in the Ring of Fire area leads to the formation of volcanoes and igneous rocks.

Subduction Zones

• At subduction zones, the subducting plate is subjected to increasing heat and pressure, causing it to melt and form magma.
• The process that occurs when tectonic plates bump up against each other and create a subduction zone is called subduction.
• The characteristic of oceanic crust that leads to its subduction below continental crust is its density, which is heavier than continental crust.