• Question: What is in magma that makes up a rock?

    Asked by ellz13 to Angus, Christian, Hannah, Laura, Simon on 18 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Simon Holyoake

      Simon Holyoake answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      I believe it is made from many minerals, although there is lots of silicone, oxygen, carbon and calcium, the others will probably know more than me!!

    • Photo: Christian Maerz

      Christian Maerz answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      Complex question, very nice 🙂

      There are many different types of magma, which are all defined by different chemical compositions. It largely depends on the source of the rocks that are being brought to great depth where they are melted and become magmas. For example, magmas in places like Hawaii are very different from magmas in Japan.
      And then, as the magma is sitting deep in the earth in a so-called magma chamber, certain minerals will start to crystallise from the magma, and this will make the magma change its composition again.
      Finally, the still liquid part of the magma may make it up to earth’s surface, and will cool down very fast – and become a rock.

      Hope that helped at all…

    • Photo: Laura Roberts Artal

      Laura Roberts Artal answered on 19 Jun 2013:

      Think of magma as a mush or semi melted rocks and fully melted rocks. As well as the melted rock that Chris discribes well below, magma also contains suspended large minerals, gas bubbles and dissolved gases.

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