Aphanite, or
aphanitic as an adjective (from the
Greek αφανης, "invisible"), is a name given to certain
igneous rocks that are so fine-grained that their component
mineral crystals are not detectable by the unaided eye (as opposed to
phaneritic igneous rocks, where the minerals are visible to the unaided eye). This
geological texture results from rapid cooling in
volcanic or
hypabyssal (shallow subsurface) environments. As a rule, the texture of these rocks is not quite the same as that of
volcanic glass (e.g.,
obsidian), with volcanic glass being non-crystalline (
amorphous), and having a glass-like appearance.