As lava cools and solidifies from the surface down, cracks frequently grow downward through the rock. Such cracks are called:

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Columnar joints are formed as lava cools and solidifies from the surface down. These joints are created due to the contraction of the lava as it cools, causing cracks to form that grow downward through the rock, resulting in columnar shapes. Batholiths, sills, and stocks are different types of igneous intrusions formed when magma solidifies beneath Earth's surface.

As Lava Cools and Solidifies from the Surface Down, Cracks