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Vitrophyre is a type of porphyritic glassy rock. It is formed from lava or magma with a chemical composition similar to granite. This molten material can cool to a glass without crystallizing, especially when it cools rapidly after extruding from a volcanic vent. Volcanic glass is unstable and tends to devitrify, meaning it changes from a glassy to a crystalline state over geologic time, often resulting in a stony appearance. Because of this, geologically ancient glassy rocks are rare.12

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  1. vitrophyre
  2. volcanic glass

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