A type of fine-grained igneous rock with crystals too small to be distinguished with the naked eye, such as basalt or obsidian.
From Greek 'aphanes' (invisible) with the mineral/rock suffix '-ite,' literally meaning 'invisible-stoned.' The term was coined because the individual mineral crystals that compose these rocks are so tiny they're invisible without magnification.
Aphanite rocks look like smooth, featureless glass or plain stone to your eye, but under a microscope they're bustling with intricate crystal structures—it's like discovering an entire city hidden in plain sight! Basalt is one of the most common aphanite rocks, and it covers vast stretches of the ocean floor.
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