aphanite

[af-uh-nahyt]

noun

Petrography.

1. a fine-grained igneous rock having such compact texture that the constituent minerals cannot be detected with the naked eye.

aphanite

/ ˈæfəˌnaɪt /

noun

1. any fine-grained rock, such as a basalt, containing minerals that cannot be distinguished with the naked eye

Other Word Forms

• aphanitic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aphanite¹

1860–65; < Greek aphan ( ḗs ) unseen, hidden, invisible ( a- a- ⁶ + phanēs, adj. derivative of phaínein to bring to light, disclose) + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of aphanite¹

C19: from Greek aphanēs invisible

Example Sentences

Resembling aphanite; having a very fineÐgrained structure.

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The fine-grained compact greenstones are called aphanite.

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