What is a mineral that reflects light like a peice of foil has a metallic what?

Answer 1

some minerals have a metallic lustre, like galena (PbS) ans look like pieces of metal. Most minerals (maybe all?) with metallic lustre are opaque (do not alow light through). Metally looking is generally a good way to decide if it is metallic or not, but other similar discripticve terms are:

Adamantine lustre: More shiny/reflective than glass (which has a vitreous lustre), but usually only occurs on minerals which are translucent or transpherent and which have a high refractive index, such as zircon.

Greasy lustre: similar to metallic, often on opaque minerals. semi metallic but with variatons in texture and not quite as shiny as a metallic lustre. Graphite tends to have a semi metallic to greasy lustre.

make sure that when you check for lustre on a sample, you look at a fresh face of the crystle, not one which is worn, weathered, altered in some way or too granular.

Answer 2

To determine what type of luster a mineral would have that looked like plastic you would first need to know what type of plastic it replicated. A dull plastic such as that of a milk jug would be considered a resinous luster. If the plastic was very shiny or polished looking it would be a vitreous luster.

Answer 3

They are said to have a resinous luster. Resinous minerals have the appearance of resin, Chewing Gum or (smooth surfaced) plastic.

Answer 4

Minerals with metallic lustre do not allow light to pass through them. They appear to be opaque. They shine like metals. eg. pyrite looks lke gold.

Answer 5

Mica flakes. They are bendable, has an iridescent sheen, and if thin enough, are transparent to a certain degree. This is why people often mistake them for degraded plastic wrapping.

Answer 6

plastic

Answer 7

metalicc