Ores from molten rock

Part of Hall of Planet Earth.

ores from molten rock HERO

In some large bodies of magma, or molten rock, the minerals that crystallize settle to accumulate on the chamber floors, which slowly build up until the magma is completely solidified. The minerals accumulate in layers, depending on when they formed in the magma. This is one natural sorting process that may concentrate valuable metal-rich minerals.

In This Section

Exhibit Layers of chromite Chromite is usually one of the first minerals to crystallize in basaltic magma.