[af-uh-nahyt] 
| a fine-grained igneous rock having such compact texture that the constituent minerals cannot be detected with the naked eye. |
| aph·a·nite (āf'ə-nīt') n. A dense, homogeneous rock with constituents so fine that they cannot be seen by the naked eye. [From Greek aphanēs, unseen : a-, not; see a-1 + phainesthai, phan-, to appear, passive of phainein, to show; see phenomenon.] aph'a·nit'ic (-nĭt'ĭk) adj. |
| aphanitic (āf'ə-nĭt'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
Of or relating to an igneous rock in which the crystals are so fine that individual minerals cannot be distinguished with the naked eye. Aphanitic rocks are extrusive rocks that cooled so quickly that crystal growth was inhibited. Compare phaneritic. |
əˌnaɪt
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