Meaning & use
aphanitic
Last updated
Describing an igneous rock with a texture so fine-grained that individual mineral crystals cannot be seen with the naked eye.
See it in a sentence
Basalt is a common example of an aphanitic volcanic rock.
The geologist noted the sample's aphanitic texture, suggesting rapid cooling.
A note on using this word
Contrasts with "phaneritic," which describes coarse-grained rocks with visible crystals; the difference reflects how quickly the rock cooled.
Words with an opposite meaning
phaneritic
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