The Meaning of 'Vitreous Lustre'

Vitreous - From the Latin 'Vitrum'

Lustre is a term used to describe the way light interacts with the surface of a stone. Vitreous is the most common type of lustre seen in rocks, minerals, and particularly gemstones.

Quartz, corundum (which includes rubies and sapphires), and beryl (emerald, aquamarine) all have a vitreous lustre.

Stones with a vitreous lustre reflect light in a similar way to glass. For this reason, the appearance is often described as glassy.  

The word 'vitreous' comes from the Latin 'vitrum', meaning 'glass'. 

Article Pictures

The photo at the top of our article is a herkimer diamond from Herkimer County, New York. Photo: Courtesy of Stan Celestian.

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Corundum (var. ruby) on calcite: Courtesy of Géry Parent. Aquamarine: Courtesy of Stan Celestian.