Term: Cryptocrystalline

Cryptocrystalline

A rock-texture term for which the individual mineral grains in an aggregate are too small to be distinguished in an ordinary light microscope. If grains can be distinguished in a light microscope, the texture is “microcrystalline”. The rock is said to have a “compact” texture if grains cannot be distinguished by the naked eye. Carbonate petrographers use a discrete crystal dimension for individual carbonate grains for a rock to be classified as having “cryptocrystalline” texture, although the dimension does not appear to be in universal agreement.