Mineral Luster (original) (raw)
Definition
| Luster | Luster Description |
|---|---|
| Adamantine | High index of refraction, eg. Rutile. |
| Adamantine - Greasy | Between adamantine and greasy. |
| Adamantine - Metallic | Between adamantine and metallic. |
| Adamantine - Pearly | Between pearly and adamantine. |
| Adamantine - Resinous | Between resinous and adamantine, eg. Sphalerite. |
| Adamantine - Silky | Between silky and adamantine. |
| Chatoyant | Numerous hair-like inclusions aligned to produce "catseye" figure. |
| Earthy (Dull) | Completly dull, eg. clays. |
| Greasy (Oily) | Surface alteration, eg. Halite. |
| Metallic | Specular reflection, eg. Pyrite or Mercury. |
| Metallic - Dull | Has a dull metallic lustesr. |
| Pearly | Formed by numerous partly-developed cleavages, eg. Pearls. |
| Resinous | Luster of Resin, eg. Amber |
| Resinous - Greasy | High index of refraction with surface alteration, eg. Sulphur. |
| Resinous - Metallic | High index of refraction in nearly opague minerals |
| Schiller | Caused by numerous platy inclusions or separations. |
| Silky | Noticeable shiney direction, eg. Satin Spar. |
| Silky - Pearly | Silky and pearly lusters. |
| Sub Metallic | Almost metallic reflection, eg. Cuprite. |
| Subadamantine | Not quite adamantine in luster. |
| Vitreous (Glassy) | Luster of broken glass, eg. Quartz. |
| Vitreous - Adamantine | Has aspects of both vitreous & adamantine lusters. |
| Vitreous - Dull | Has aspects of both vitreous & dull lusters. |
| Vitreous - Greasy | Has aspects of both vitreous & greasy lusters, eg. Nepheline. |
| Vitreous - Metallic | Has aspects of both vitreous & metallic lusters. |
| Vitreous - Pearly | Has aspects of both vitreous & pearly lusters. |
| Vitreous - Resinous | Has aspects of both vitreous & resinous lustesr. |
| Vitreous - Silky | Has aspects of both vitreous & silky lusters. |
| Vitreous - Waxy | Has aspects of both vitreous & waxy lusters. |
| Waxy | Fairly dull luster, eg. wax. |
Other Sources of Mineral Luster
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Example: "luster-vitreous" for all minerals with a vitreous luster.
Example: "luster-metallic" for all minerals with a metallic luster