Final answer:
The most common rocks of the crust and mantle, basalt, granite, and peridotite, represent the common types of lava and magma that have cooled to form these layers. They directly result from Earth's geological processes and plate tectonics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Basalt, granite, and peridotite are the most common rocks of the crust and mantle because they represent the most common types of lava and magma that make up these layers of the Earth. These rocks result from the cooling and solidification of molten material from within the Earth's interior.
Basalt is a volcanic rock that forms the oceanic crust and comes from the rapid cooling of basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface. Granite is an igneous silicate rock that constitutes most of the Earth's continental crust, forming through a longer cooling process which allows larger crystal growth. Peridotite, primarily found in the mantle, is an ultramafic rock composed of iron- and magnesium-rich silicate minerals and has a very low occurrence at the Earth's surface due to the extreme conditions needed for its formation. These rocks are not highly porous, nor are they easily weathered. Instead, their abundance is a direct result of the processes of plate tectonics and the geologic activity of Earth.