What Would You Like to Know?
-What is Luster?Luster refers to how light is reflected from the surface of a mineral. The two main types of luster are metallic and nonmetallic.
-What is Metallic Luster?Minerals exhibiting metallic luster look like metal, such as a silvery appearance or that of a flat piece of steel.
-How many types of nonmetallic luster are there?
Vitreous: The luster of glass.
Resinous: The luster of resin.
Pearly: The luster of pearls.
Greasy: Looks like it is covered in a thin layer of oil.
Silky: The luster of silk.
Adamantine: A hard, brilliant luster.
Another common nonmetallic luster is called translucent luster, where you can see into the mineral, but not completely through it. A mineral that displays a transparent luster transmits light completely through it, resembling glass.
Image copyrighted – from the “Photographic Guide to Mineral Species CD” – used with permission.