What type of rock is formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava?

Igneous rock is formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. When magma rises to the Earth's surface and erupts through volcanic activity, it is referred to as lava. As this molten rock cools, either below the surface (in the case of intrusive igneous rocks) or after a volcanic eruption (for extrusive igneous rocks), it crystallizes and solidifies into igneous rock.

This process involves different textures and mineral compositions depending on the cooling rate and the chemical nature of the original magma. For instance, if it cools rapidly, it forms fine-grained structures, while slow cooling allows larger crystals to form. Understanding the origins and characteristics of igneous rocks is fundamental in geology as they reveal important information about volcanic activity and the Earth's interior.

The other types of rocks, such as sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, result from different processes: sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation and compaction of sediments, while metamorphic rocks are transformed from existing rocks through heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids. Ore rocks specifically refer to economically valuable mineral deposits, which don't classify as a type determined by formation processes like the others.