Waiting for answer This question has not been answered yet. You can hire a professional tutor to get the answer.

QUESTION

Why is luster important for mineral identification?

Its one of many diagnostic tests in and particularly good for identifying metallic minerals which tend to have a shiny metallic luster.

The luster of a mineral is the way that it reflects light. This may seem like a difficult distinction to make, but picture the difference between the way light reflects off a glass window and the way it reflects off of a shiny chrome car bumper. A mineral that reflects light the way glass does has a vitreous (or glassy) luster; a mineral that reflects light like chrome has a metallic luster. There are a variety of additional possibilities for luster, including pearly, waxy, and resinous (see pictures in Figure 5). Minerals that are as brilliantly reflective as diamond have an adamantine luster. With a little practice, luster is as easily recognized as color and can be quite distinctive, particularly for minerals that occur in multiple colors like quartz.

Show more
LEARN MORE EFFECTIVELY AND GET BETTER GRADES!
Ask a Question