GENERAL GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Luster is how a mineral reflects light. The terms metallic and nonmetallic describe the basic types of luster. Table 7 lists the most common terms used to describe luster and an example of a corresponding mineral. Some minerals that don’t exhibit luster are referred to as “earthy, ” “chalky, ” or “dull."

Detailed explanation-2: -In an introductory course, luster is a described as a property of light reflection that separates metallic from non-metallic minerals. Determining luster can be difficult for a beginner.

Detailed explanation-3: -Luster: A mineral’s luster is the overall sheen of its surface – it may have the sheen of polished metal, or that of an unpolished metal that is pitted by weathering – or it may have the sheen of glass, or look dull or earthy, etc.