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  • Understanding Mineral Luster: A Comprehensive Guide
    The term that describes how a mineral reflects light from its surface is luster.

    Luster can be described in many ways, including:

    * Metallic: Looks like polished metal (e.g., pyrite, galena)

    * Non-metallic:

    * Vitreous: Glassy (e.g., quartz)

    * Adamantine: Brilliant, like a diamond (e.g., diamond)

    * Resinous: Like resin (e.g., amber)

    * Pearly: Like a pearl (e.g., muscovite mica)

    * Silky: Like silk (e.g., asbestos)

    * Dull: No shine (e.g., clay)

    * Earthy: Like soil (e.g., limonite)

    Luster is one of the key physical properties used to identify minerals.

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