Luster of Minerals: Types & Examples

The luster of a mineral is the way in which it reflects light. It is one of the most important physical properties of minerals, and it can be used to help identify minerals.

What is Luster

Luster refers to the quality and intensity of light reflected from the surface of a substance, particularly minerals, gemstones, or metals. It describes how light interacts with the material’s surface, giving it a particular appearance.

Luster is determined by the mineral’s surface texture, transparency, and reflective qualities.

Opaque or transparent

Minerals may be categorized according to whether they are opaque or transparent. A thin section of an opaque mineral such as a metal will not transmit light, whereas a thin section of a transparent mineral will. 

The absorption index of an opaque mineral is high. Light which is incident upon an opaque mineral such as a metal is unable to propagate through the mineral due to this high rate of absorption, and will thus be reflected. Opaque minerals typically reflect between 20% to 50% or more of the light incident upon them. In contrast, most of the light which is incident upon a transparent mineral passes into and through the mineral; transparent minerals may reflect as little as 5% of the incident light and as much as 20%. Typically those minerals which possess metallic bonding are opaque whereas those where ionic bonding is prevalent are transparent.

Types Minerals Luster:  Metallic, Vitreous, Pearly, and Adamantine luster

Relative differences in opacity and transparency are described as luster. The term luster refers to the quantity and quality of the light which is reflected from a mineral's exterior surfaces. Luster provides an assessment of how much the mineral surface 'sparkles'. This quality is determined by the type of atomic bonds present within the substance. It is related to the indices of absorption and refraction of the material and the amount of dispersion from the crystal lattice, as well as the texture of the exposed mineral surface.

Minerals are primarily divided into the two categories of metallic and nonmetallic luster. Minerals possessing metallic luster are opaque and very reflective, possessing a high absorptive index. This type of luster indicates the presence of metallic bonding within the crystal lattice of the material. Examples of minerals which exhibit metallic luster are native copper, gold, and silver, galena, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. The luster of a mineral which does not quite possess a metallic luster is termed submetallic; hematite provides an example of submetallic luster.

The property of streak can aid in distinguishing whether a specimen has a metallic or a nonmetallic luster. Metals tend to be soft, implying that more powdered material may be obtained from the streak sample of a metal than a nonmetal. Metals are also opaque, transmitting no light. Minerals which possess a metallic luster therefore tend to exhibit a thick, dense, dark streak whereas those which possess a nonmetallic luster tend to produce a thinner, less dense streak which is also lighter in color.

Adjectives such as "vitreous', 'dull', 'pearly', 'greasy', 'silky' or 'adamantine' are frequently used to describe various types of nonmetallic luster.

Types of Luster

There are many different types of luster, but the most common are:

Metallic Luster

Minerals with a metallic luster look like metal. They are typically opaque and shiny, and they reflect light strongly. Examples of minerals with a metallic luster include gold, silver, and copper.

Submetallic Luster

Minerals with a submetallic luster have a duller shine than minerals with a metallic luster. They may also be translucent or transparent. Examples of minerals with a submetallic luster include hematite and magnetite.

Nonmetallic Luster

Includes a wide range of appearances not resembling metals. Common types are:

Minerals of dull or earthy luster reflect light very poorly and do not shine. This type of luster is often seen in minerals which are composed of an aggregate of tiny grains. An example is kaolinite.

A surface of resinous luster possesses a sheen resembling that of resin. Such materials have a refractive index greater than 2.0. Sphalerite (ZnS) demonstrates a resinous luster. A principal example is amber, which is a form of fossilized resin.

Pearly luster appears iridescent, opalescent, or pearly. This is typically exhibited by mineral surfaces which are parallel to planes of perfect cleavage. Layer silicates such as talc often demonstrate a pearly luster on cleavage surfaces. Examples of minerals with a pearly luster include mica and talc.

A surface which possesses greasy luster appears to be covered with a thin layer of oil. A light-scattering surface which is slightly rough. Examples of greasy luster include graphite and green serpentine.

Silky luster occurs when light is reflected off of an aggregate of fine parallel fibers; malachite and serpentine may both exhibit silky luster. Examples include asbestos, ulexite and the satin spar variety of gypsum. A fibrous lustre is similar, but has a coarser texture.

Vitreous luster occurs in minerals with predominant ionic bonding and resembles the reflective quality of broken glass. The refractive index of such minerals is 1.5 to 2.0. Common examples include calcite, quartz, topaz, beryl, tourmaline and fluorite, among others.

A brilliant luster such as the sparkling reflection of diamond is known as adamantine. Minerals of adamantine luster have high refractive indices (1.9-2.6) and are highly dispersive and translucent. Covalent bonding or the presence of heavy metal atoms or transition elements may result in adamantine luster. Examples including cerussite, zircon, and cubic zirconia.

Factors that can affect luster include

Refractive Index: Higher refractive indices generally lead to more brilliant lusters.

Surface Texture: Smooth surfaces reflect light more efficiently, resulting in a brighter luster. Rough or weathered surfaces appear duller.

Crystal Structure: The arrangement of atoms within a mineral can influence how light interacts with its surface.

Impurities and Inclusions: These can alter the way light is reflected or absorbed, affecting the perceived luster.

For example, minerals with a metallic luster are usually composed of metals or metal-like elements. Minerals with a vitreous luster are usually composed of silica or other glassy materials. Minerals with a dull luster are often composed of soft, earthy materials.

When describing luster, it's helpful to use comparative terms and adjectives to convey the specific appearance. For example, a mineral might be described as having a "bright vitreous luster," a "submetallic luster with a dull tarnish," or a "silky luster with a pearly sheen."