Answer: Rock salt crystal texture (macro)

What you're looking at

Rock salt is a mineral form of sodium chloride that occurs naturally in rock deposits around the world. You'll find it mined from underground salt beds, sea salt evaporation ponds, and ancient salt domes. It's the raw material that gets refined into the table salt we use every day, and it's also used in de-icing roads and in industrial processes.

At extreme magnification, rock salt reveals a mesmerizing world of perfectly formed cubic and rectangular crystals clustered together. The harsh macro lighting picks out every edge and facet, creating a landscape of geometric shapes and shadows that looks almost alien. This close-up view strips away the context we normally use to recognize salt, making it surprisingly difficult to identify.

Look for geometric, cubic or rectangular crystal formations with sharp edges and repeating patterns when examining mineral close-ups.