Luster

Luster is the surface appearance of a substance, or the manner in which it reflects light. The luster of minerals varies with the nature of their surfaces. A variation in the quantity of light reflected produces different degrees of intensity of luster; a variation in the nature of the reflecting surface produces different kinds of luster.

Kinds of Luster - The kinds of luster recognized are as follows:

Non-metallic minerals of varying luster

1. Metallic
2. Sub-metallic
3. Non-metallic

A. Adamantine

B. Vitreous

C. Resinous

D. Greasy

E. Pearly

F. Silky

Degrees of Luster - The degrees of intensity of luster are classified as follows:

1. Splendent
2. Shining
3. Glistening
4. Glimmering
5. Dull

Sources

• Chesterman, Charles W. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf: New York (1987)
• Dana, Edward S. and Ford, William E. Dana's Textbook of Mineralogy - Fourth Edition, John Wiley and Sons: New York (1932)