Which term describes rocks formed from the crystallization of minerals?

Prepare for the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations to get you ready for exam success!

The term that describes rocks formed from the crystallization of minerals is igneous rock. Igneous rocks form when magma or lava cools and solidifies, allowing minerals within the melt to crystallize. This process can take place beneath the Earth's surface, resulting in intrusive igneous rocks, or on the surface following a volcanic eruption, producing extrusive igneous rocks.

Metamorphic rocks, while also composed of minerals, are formed through the alteration of existing rocks due to heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids, rather than directly from the crystallization of minerals. Sedimentary rocks originate from the accumulation of sediment and the compaction and cementation of that material over time. Organic rocks are a specific type of sedimentary rock that forms from the accumulation of plant or animal debris. Hence, the defining characteristic of igneous rocks is their direct formation from the crystallization of minerals, distinguishing them from the other rock types listed.

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