(of rocks) composed of crystals that can be distinguished individually only by the use of a polarizing microscope
cryptocrystalline in American English
(ˌkrɪptoʊˈkrɪstəlɪn)
adjective
Mineralogy
having a crystalline structure of submicroscopic crystals
cryptocrystalline in American English
(ˌkrɪptouˈkrɪstlɪn, -ˌain)
adjective
Mineralogy
having a microscopic crystalline structure
Word origin
[1860–65; crypto- + crystalline]This word is first recorded in the period 1860–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: calibrate, jumping jack, metric system, monism, raidercrypto- is a combining form meaning “hidden,” “secret,” used in the formation of compoundwords. Other words that use the affix crypto- include: cryptogenic, cryptography, cryptosystem, cryptovolcanic, cryptozoic
Examples of 'cryptocrystalline' in a sentence
cryptocrystalline
The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of using cryptocrystalline magnesite to remove boron ions from aqueous systems.
Vhahangwele Masindi, Mugera W. Gitari 2017, 'Removal of boron from aqueous solution using cryptocrystalline magnesite', Journal of Water Reuse and Desalinationhttp://jwrd.iwaponline.com/content/7/2/205. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)