noun
- A fine-grained igneous rock with crystals too small to be seen with the naked eye; a type of aphanitic rock.
Usage: geology; technical term; plural form of aphanite
Examples
- Basalt and andesite are common examples of aphanites found in volcanic regions.
- Geologists classify aphanites based on their mineral composition and cooling history.
- The aphanites in this sample cooled rapidly, preventing large crystal formation.
- Aphanites typically form when magma cools quickly at or near Earth's surface.
- Under a microscope, aphanites reveal microcrystalline structures invisible to the naked eye.