Plural of aphanite; refers to multiple types of fine-grained igneous rocks with invisible or nearly invisible crystals.
The plural form of 'aphanite,' maintaining the Greek root 'aphanes' (invisible) with the plural suffix. Used in geology to discuss collections of or categories within fine-grained igneous rocks.
When geologists talk about aphanites, they're referring to some of Earth's most common rocks that pour out of volcanoes and form the foundation of the ocean floor—yet most people never notice them because the crystals are literally invisible! These humble rocks are foundational to understanding how our planet works.
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