aphanitic
/ˌæfəˈnɪtɪk/
adjective
- Describing an igneous rock whose individual mineral crystals are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
- The aphanitic texture of basalt makes it look smooth and featureless to the untrained eye.
- Geologists use a microscope to identify the minerals in aphanitic rocks like rhyolite.
- Unlike granite, which has visible crystals, aphanitic lava flows cool so quickly that crystals cannot grow large.
Synonyms