Mineral Luster

Explanation: The way light reflects off a mineral’s 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

Explanation: The way light reflects off a mineral’s surface.
Instructions:
1. Shine a flashlight on the mineral,
or hold it up to a light.

Mineral Luster Chart:
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).
•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
3. If it is non-metallic, compare it
to the minerals on a luster chart
to determine what category it falls
under.