Coastal & Marine Geology InfoBank

USGS CMG InfoBank: Mineral Luster


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Comment: 11:54 - 12:22 (00:28)

Source: Annenberg/CPB Resources - Earth Revealed - 12. Minerals: The Materials of Earth

Keywords: "James Sadd", luster, feldspar, muscovite, galena, pyrite, "metallic mineral", "physical property", "mineral identification", mineral

Our transcription: The way in which of the minerals reflect light is the physical property called "luster".

Feldspar has a dull luster.

It doesn't shine at all. But compare that to muscovite, which has a glassy luster.

Metallic minerals likes galena reflect light like a polished metal surface.

Pyrite also has a metallic luster but is a different color than galena.

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Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices
U.S. Department of the Interior \| U.S. Geological Survey URL: http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/infobank/programs/html/school/moviepage/11.01.17.html Page Contact: InfoBank staff Page Last Modified: Fri Sep 18 02:36:52 PDT 2009 (wcs)