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greasy lustre
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greasy lustre

mineralogy
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Quick Summary

In mineralogy, lustre describes how a mineral's surface reflects light. This appearance is influenced by the mineral's refractive power, transparency, and structure.1

A greasy lustre is characterized by the appearance of being covered with a thin layer of oil. This effect is caused by the scattering of light from a microscopically rough surface. Examples of minerals that can exhibit a greasy lustre include nepheline and cerargyrite. This type of lustre is distinct from others like metallic, adamantine, vitreous, pearly, or silky.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. lustre
  2. mineral - Lustre

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