Which of the following is a characteristic of intrusive igneous rocks?

Intrusive igneous rocks are characterized by their formation beneath the Earth's surface, where magma slowly cools and crystallizes. This slow cooling process allows larger crystals to form, resulting in a coarse-grained texture that is a hallmark of these rocks. The greater the time magma spends cooling underground, the larger the crystals can grow, which is why rocks like granite, a common intrusive igneous rock, are recognizable by their visible, interlocking crystals.

In contrast, intrusive igneous rocks do not form quickly, as they cool slowly; they do not have a fine-grained texture or typically form above ground—those processes are associated with extrusive igneous rocks, which cool rapidly upon eruption.