noun
- needle-like crystals or crystalline structures, especially those found in volcanic glass or certain minerals
Usage: geology; mineralogy
Examples
- The volcanic glass contained numerous trichites that gave it a distinctive texture.
- Under the microscope, the researcher observed trichites embedded in the obsidian sample.
- The formation of trichites occurs during rapid cooling of molten rock.
- Geologists use the presence of trichites to determine the cooling history of volcanic materials.
- The trichites in the specimen were so small they required high magnification to observe.
- These hair-like trichites are characteristic of certain types of volcanic glass.