Glossary of Mineral Terminology

This section explains some of the more specialized terminology used in the industry to describe mineral and crystal attributes, shapes, and features.

Section	Description	View
Crystal Habits & Growth Patterns	Crystal habit is a technical term which describes the actual shape of a crystal. Growth pattern describes how groups of these shapes form together. Some of the descriptive crystal habits and growth patterns include:	View Glossary
Mohs Hardness	Hardness is measured by the mohs scale. For each number, an example mineral is given. 1 is the softest (Talc) and 10 is the hardest mineral known to humans (Diamonds). Note that the scale is not linear, it is logarithmic.	View Glossary
Luster	Luster describes the surface appearrance of a mineral. This is one of the key diagnostic features of a mineral.	View Glossary
Optical Phenomena	Optical phenomena describe distinctive "plays of light" or "color changes" that occur at or near the surface of minerals, that can be described in distinctive terms.	View Glossary
Industry Terminology	These are some peculiar terms you might have heard from mineral dealers and collectors and thought huh? What are you talking about?	View Glossary
Classification	Some general classifications are used in the collection to differentiate specimens from various domains of science.	View Glossary

Luster

	Adamantine	Having high refractive index like a diamond
	Dull	Not shiny or reflective
	Earthy	Soil or clay like surface texture
	Greasy	Oily or grease like appearrance
	Metallic	Shiny and reflective, like a polished, chrome metal surface
	Milky	Dull white to off white with slight translucency
	Pearly	Having an iridescence similar to pearls
	Resinous	Having the apperance of a resin or gum
	Silky	Having a surface appearrance like silk, with very fine parallel layers
	Submetallic	Metallic, but dull
	Vitreous	Shiny like glass, but not reflective
	Waxy	Similar to wax, smooth but not shiny