What does plutonic rock mean?

What is the meaning of plutonic rock?

Definition of plutonic rock

: an igneous rock (as granite) of holocrystalline granular texture regarded as having solidified at considerable depth below the surface.

What is plutonic rock example?

Plutonic Igneous Rocks. Intrusive igneous rocks, formed by the slow solidification of magma deep below the surface and characterized by large crystals. Named after Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld. Examples include granite, gabbro and peridotite.

What is special about plutonic rock?

The unique characteristic that distinguishes plutonic rock from sedimentary and igneous ones is the presence of deformational-metamorphic textures, especially preferred lattice orientations of crystals.

How do you tell if a rock is volcanic or plutonic?

Volcanic rocks and plutonic rocks differ mainly in that volcanic rocks form at the surface of a planet whereas plutonic rocks form beneath the surface. Plutonic rocks are also coarser grained, being made of large interlocking crystals whereas volcanic rocks are more fine-grained.

What are plutonic rocks and where are they formed?

Plutonic rocks are rocks formed when magma cools and solidifies below the earth’s surface. Plutonic rocks are also known as ‘intrusive igneous rocks’ because they form when magma squeezes into cracks and crevices, as if it is an ‘intruder’ who is invading the rocks.

Where do plutonic rocks form quizlet?

Plutonic, forms as magma crystallizes below the earth’s surface.

How do plutonic igneous rocks form quizlet?

Rocks formed when magma cools and solidifies BELOW the earth’s surface.

Which of the following is an important difference between volcanic and plutonic rocks?

The main difference between plutonic and volcanic rocks is that plutonic rocks form under the surface of Earth, whereas volcanic rocks form upon exposure to air.

Where does a plutonic intrusive igneous rock form quizlet?

Igneous rocks are called intrusive when they cool and solidify beneath the surface. Intrusive rocks form plutons and so are also called plutonic. A pluton is an igneous intrusive rock body that has cooled in the crust. When magma cools within the Earth, the cooling proceeds slowly.

How do intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks differ?

Extrusive rocks are formed on the surface of the Earth from lava, which is magma that has emerged from underground. Intrusive rocks are formed from magma that cools and solidifies within the crust of the planet.

Can an igneous rock become an igneous rock?

10. Can an igneous rock become another igneous rock? If so, how? Yes, by melting again and then solidification.

What’s the difference between intrusive plutonic and extrusive volcanic igneous rocks quizlet?

Why are volcanic (extrusive) igneous rocks generally fine grained or porphyritic, whereas plutonic (intrusive) igneous rocks are generally coarse grained or a pegmatite? Be able to define and recognize the following igneous rocks: granite, rhyolite, diorite, andesite, gabbro, basalt, and peridotite.

What is the difference between magma and lava and how do they become igneous rocks?

Magma is less dense than the surrounding rock which causes it to rise. When magma reaches the surface it is then called lava and the eruptions of lava and ash produce volcanoes. The lava that reaches the Earth’s surface will harden and become igneous rock.

What are two major properties used to classify igneous rocks?

Texture and composition are two characteristics used to classify igneous rocks. Texture describes the appearance based on its size, shape, and the arrangement of its interlocking crystals. The composition classes of igneous rocks are based on the proportions of light and dark minerals in the rock.

How is a mafic plutonic igneous rock different from an felsic volcanic igneous rock?

Mafic rocks tend to be composed of iron and magnesium and are darker and more dense. There tends to be little or no water in mafic rocks. Volcanoes where mafic magma dominate tend to extrude lava rather than explode, being less dangerous. Felsic rocks tend to be high in silicate and lighter and less dense.

How do plutonic rocks get to the surface?

PLUTONIC ROCKS form from magma that cools and crystallizes beneath the Earth’s surface. In a sense, this is the portion of the magma that never makes it to the surface. For the plutonic rock to become exposed at the surface, it must be tectonically uplifted and the overlying material must be removed by erosion.

What are plutonic rocks composed of?

In the restricted sense, plutonic rocks are coarse-grained crystalline igneous rocks formed by consolidation of molten rock material or magma below the Earth’s surface (Latin Pluto, god of the Underworld).

Is Basalt a plutonic rock?

Basalt and obsidian are volcanic rocks; granite is plutonic. Ask students how they can determine this. The answer is: plutonic rocks (such as granite) cool slowly in a relatively undisturbed environment permitting the growth of large mineral crystals which can easily be seen by the unaided eye.

Is granite a plutonic rock?

granite, coarse- or medium-grained intrusive igneous rock that is rich in quartz and feldspar; it is the most common plutonic rock of the Earth’s crust, forming by the cooling of magma (silicate melt) at depth.

Is gabbro a plutonic rock?

gabbro, any of several medium- or coarse-grained rocks that consist primarily of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene. Essentially, gabbro is the intrusive (plutonic) equivalent of basalt, but whereas basalt is often remarkably homogeneous in mineralogy and composition, gabbros are exceedingly variable.