Igneous Examples: 10 Rock Types Explained

Igneous rocks are produced from the molten products below the Earth’s crust. They are formed when hot magma or lava cools. Keep reading to find 10 examples of igneous rocks and to learn more about the different characteristics of igneous rock types.

Basalt, a dark and fine-grained igneous rock, is found abundantly beneath the surface of the Earth, making it the commonest bedrock. Like andesite, basalt is found on the surface of the moon as well as on the Earth. Basalt is especially helpful in making cobblestones, statues and stone wool.

Dacite is a rock that is formed from large volcanic eruptions. It has a high silica content and a high crystal content, which make it prone to a violent eruption. In fact, dacite domes from earlier eruptions exploded in the catastrophic eruption of Mount Saint Helens in Washington State in 1980. Dacite contains more quartz than andesite and also works as a construction aggregate.

The most common igneous rock found at the Earth’s surface is granite. Widely used in construction, granite contains crystals that are visible to the naked eye due to the very slow crystallization below the surface. Granite occurs in a range of vibrant colors and is one of the strongest materials on the planet.

One example of extrusive igneous rock — an igneous rock that cools above the surface of the ground rather than beneath — is obsidian. Obsidian is smooth like glass and usually jet black, although it can be seen in a variety of colors. While it is rather fragile, obsidian breaks with a conchoidal fracture and has very sharp edges. It was widely used by ancient cultures in knives and arrowheads and is used today in surgical instruments since its edges are sharper and thinner than surgical steel.

Pegmatite is a crystalline igneous rock that forms below the Earth’s surface. One of the things that makes it visually striking is its large crystals, similar to granite. It forms during the latter phases of magma chamber crystallization and sometimes contains rare minerals. Sheets of mica can be mined from pegmatite and are used in electronic devices and other products.

Peridotite, a very coarse-grained igneous rock, is formed below the Earth's surface. Its composition contains high levels of olivine, which is rich in magnesium, as well as iron and chromite. Peridotite is of special interest to scientists because the rock provides important clues about the formation of the Earth’s mantle. Peridotite can be a source rock for diamonds and other gems.

Pumice is a light-colored and lightweight igneous rock ejected from a volcano at very high heat and pressure. Gases escape as the rock hardens, leaving bubbles and holes throughout the rock, and resulting in its light weight. Crushed pumice is often added to soaps to clean and exfoliate.

Rhyolite is another silica-heavy example of igneous rock, prone to explosion in eruptions. Its composition also contains large portions of quartz and feldspar. Eruptions of rhyolite often create the igneous rocks obsidian and pumice. Rhyolite is used to manufacture stone tools but is too soft to be an effective stone tool itself.

Most rocks are tough, but only one is tuff, an igneous rock that forms from materials ejected from a volcano that solidify. It is made largely from ash and cinder. Some call tuff by the name "tufa," especially the tuff that is used as a building material.