Igneous Rock vs. Sedimentary Rock: What's the Difference?
Read the comparison below, or explore it visually. Create a visual lesson comparing igneous rock and sedimentary rock using available credits or plan allowance.
Igneous rock forms when molten rock, called magma underground or lava at the surface, cools and hardens into interlocking crystals, while sedimentary rock forms when fragments of older rock, shells or minerals settle in layers and are compacted and cemented together. Because sediment builds up gently, sedimentary rocks often contain fossils, which igneous rocks almost never do.
At a glance
| Igneous Rock | Sedimentary Rock | |
|---|---|---|
| Formed from | Cooling of magma or lava | Compacted and cemented sediment |
| Texture | Interlocking crystals or glassy | Grains cemented together; often layered |
| Fossils | Almost never; heat destroys remains | Common, especially in limestone and shale |
| Where it forms | Inside the crust or at volcanoes | Seas, rivers, lakes, deserts |
| Examples | Granite, basalt, pumice | Sandstone, limestone, shale |
Which should you use?
Igneous rock is the right term for volcanic and deep-cooled rock, such as the dark basalt of India's Deccan Traps or the granite used for kitchen countertops.
Sedimentary rock is the right term for layered rock built from deposits, such as the red sandstone of Delhi's Red Fort or the limestone quarried for cement.