The type of rock that forms from the cooling of molten material is called igneous rock. This process occurs when magma cools and solidifies either beneath the Earth’s surface as intrusive igneous rock (like granite) or on the surface after volcanic eruptions as extrusive igneous rock (like basalt). Igneous rocks provide important geological information about the Earth’s internal processes and are integral to the rock cycle. Their formation reflects the cooling rate of magma, which influences their texture and mineral composition.