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 Words From

• aph·a·nit·ic [af-, uh, -, nit, -ik], 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