What term describes rocks that are formed from volcanic lava?

The term that describes rocks formed from volcanic lava is extrusive rocks. These types of rocks form when lava erupts onto the Earth’s surface and cools rapidly, resulting in a fine-grained texture due to the quick cooling process. This rapid solidification often leads to the formation of volcanic rock types such as basalt and pumice.

In contrast, intrusive rocks are formed from magma that cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface, resulting in a coarse-grained texture. Metamorphic rocks, on the other hand, originate from either existing igneous, sedimentary, or even other metamorphic rocks that undergo changes due to heat and pressure. Lastly, sedimentary rocks are created from the accumulation and compaction of mineral particles and organic material over time, often in water environments, rather than from volcanic processes. Understanding these processes is essential in distinguishing between different rock types based on their formation conditions.