THE FORMATION OF MOLTEN MATERIALS INTO IGNEOUS ROCKS Igneous rocks are formed from molten materials known as magma and lava. Magma is molten rock found beneath the Earth's surface, while lava is magma that has erupted onto the surface. When magma slowly cools and solidifies beneath the ground, it forms intrusive or plutonic igneous rocks, such as granite. These rocks usually have large crystals due to the slow cooling process. On the other hand, when lava cools rapidly after a volcanic eruption, it forms extrusive or volcanic igneous rocks, like basalt and pumice, which typically have small or no visible crystals. This entire process—starting from the melting of rock in the Earth’s mantle, the movement of magma or lava, and the eventual cooling and solidification—is how igneous rocks are formed.