Phaneritic

Close-up of granite exposed in Chennai, India

Phaneritic[1] is a term usually used to refer to igneous rock grain size. It means that the size of matrix grains in the rock is large enough to be distinguished with the unaided eye as opposed to aphanitic grains (which are too small to be seen with the naked eye). This texture forms by the slow cooling of magma deep underground in the plutonic environment. It may also be applied to metamorphic rocks with the same definition.

References

  1. ↑ Monroe, James Stewart; Wicander, Reed; Hazlett, Richard W. (2007). "4". In Dodson, Keith. Physical Geology: Exploring the Earth. Earth Sciences (6 ed.). USA: Thompson Brooks/Cole. p. 115. ISBN 0495011487.
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