Mineral Luster

1
Mineral Luster

• Explanation The way light reflects off a
  minerals surface.

• Instructions
• 1. Shine a flashlight on the mineral, or hold it
  up to a light.
• 2. Determine if the mineral is metallic in
  appearance (looks like a chunk of silver or gold
  metal) or non-metallic (doesn't look like a chunk
  of metal).
• 3. If it is non-metallic, compare it to the
  minerals on a luster chart to determine what
  category it falls under.

EXAMPLE
2
Mineral Luster

• Explanation The way light reflects off a
  minerals surface.

• Instructions
• 1. Shine a flashlight on the mineral, or hold it
  up to a light.
• 2. Determine if the mineral is metallic in
  appearance (looks like a chunk of silver or gold
  metal) or non-metallic (doesn't look like a chunk
  of metal).
• 3. If it is non-metallic, compare it to the
  minerals on a luster chart to determine what
  category it falls under.

• Mineral Luster Chart
• Adamantine - very gemmy crystals
• Brilliant very shiny and reflective
• Dull - just a non-reflective surface of any kind
• Earthy - the look of dirt or dried mud
• Fibrous - the look of fibers
• Glassy allows light through, transparent
• Greasy - the look of grease
• Gumdrop - the look a sucked on hard candy
• Metallic - the look of metals
• Pearly - the look of a pearl
• Pitchy - the look of tar
• Resinous - the look of resins such as dried glue
  or chewing gum
• Silky - the look of silk, similar to fibrous but
  more compact
• Submetallic - a poor metallic luster, opaque but
  reflecting little light
• Vitreous - the most common luster, it simply
  means the look of glass
• Waxy - the look of wax

EXAMPLE