The rate at which magma cools determines the size of the crystals in the new rock. Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling and solidification of molten magma which finds its way to the surface or depth of very low pressure beneath the surface. This place or depth of cooling of magma affects the cooling rate and hence the size of the crystals formed. Igneous rocks formed at depths below the surface have more time to cool and allows more time for Crystal growth and hence produce coarse grained crystal grains called Intrusive igneous rocks which have significantly larger crystals than those formed on the surface which cools rapidly and allowing very little time for crystal growth giving rise to the formation of fine grained crystals and are called extrusive igneous rocks.
