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. |