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.
Example Subject Searches
Example: "luster-vitreous" for all minerals with a vitreous luster. Example: "luster-metallic" for all minerals with a metallic luster
