DIVE Earth Science Quarterly Exam 1 Practice

Magma that reaches the Earth's surface is referred to as lava. When magma is stored beneath the Earth's crust, it is under high pressure and remains molten. Once it erupts through a volcano or fissure, it flows out and is called lava. This transformation marks the transition from magma to lava, which can then solidify into various types of volcanic rock.

The other options represent different geological terms: the lithosphere refers to the rigid outer layer of the Earth, encompassing the crust and the upper mantle; the mantle is the thick layer of the Earth located below the crust, composed mainly of silicate materials; and minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances with a crystalline structure. Each of these terms pertains to distinct aspects of Earth's geology, rather than the specific process of magma reaching the surface.