Aphanite
Definition
An igneous rock (volcanic or subvolcanic) featuring an extremely fine-grained, microcrystalline, or glassy texture, where the component crystals are so small that they cannot be distinguished with the naked eye, requiring an optical microscope for identification. As an adjective, it describes the specific texture of these rocks (such as basalt or andesite), resulting from the rapid cooling of magma at the Earth's surface.
Bilingual Equivalents
- Aphanite
- Aphanitic rock
Grammatical & Source Details
| Inflection Type | Variable masculine/feminine noun and adjective, inflecting regularly across standard grammatical categories. |
| Formation | Derived from French 'aphanite', rooted in Ancient Greek 'aphanes' (invisible or unmanifested), referencing the imperceptible mineral grains. |
| Spelling / Pronunciation | /ˈæfənaɪt/ |
| Source | Glossary of Geology and Petrological Nomenclature Structures |
Contextual Usage Examples
RO: Geologul a colectat un eșantion de afanit negru de pe versantul vulcanului stins pentru a-i analiza compoziția chimică.
EN: The geologist collected a sample of black aphanite from the slope of the extinct volcano to analyze its chemical composition.
RO: Răcirea bruscă a lavei în contact cu apa mării a favorizat formarea unei structuri de tip afanit, fără cristale vizibile.
EN: The sudden cooling of lava in contact with seawater favored the formation of an aphanite-type structure, without visible crystals.
RO: O rocă afanită prezintă o masă fundamentală omogenă, spre deosebire de rocile faneritice unde granulele sunt mari.
EN: An aphanitic rock presents a homogeneous groundmass, unlike phaneritic rocks where the grains are large.
Idioms & Phrases
Textură de afanit / Aphanitic texture / fine-grained matrix
RO: Aranjament cristalin extrem de fin în petrografie, caracteristic rocilor efuzive care s-au solidificat rapid la suprafață.
EN: An extremely fine crystalline arrangement in petrography, characteristic of extrusive rocks that solidified rapidly at the surface.
Afanit porfiritic / Porphyritic aphanite
RO: Rocă cu o masă de bază microcristalină fină în care sunt prinse câteva cristale mari izolate, numite fenocristale.
EN: A rock with a fine microcrystalline groundmass embedding a few isolated large crystals, called phenocrysts.
Masă fundamentală de afanit / Aphanitic groundmass / microcrystalline matrix
RO: Matricea microscopică densă a unei roci magmatice care cimentează mineralele și determină aspectul său compact.
EN: The dense microscopic matrix of an igneous rock that cements minerals and dictates its compact appearance.
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