Themes of the Day:

• Color/Luster
• Magnetism
• Electrical Properties
• Special Properties

Color/Luster

• The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Perception of Color - monochromatic and polychromatic light
• Mineral Luster - metallic/non-metallic
  Non-metallic Lusters
  • subvitreous
  • vitreous (glassy)
  • adamantine
  • resinous
  • earthy
  • greasy
  • pearly
  • silky
• Color Causing Mechanisms
  • Crystal Field Theory
    • chromophore elements
    • crystal field splitting
    • light absorption in rubies
  • Band Theory
  • Charge Transfer Transitions (molecular orbital transitions)
  • Color Centers
• Mechanical Causes of Color - e.g., Star Sapphire
• Streak - color of a powdered mineral
• Luminescence
  • tribolumineacence
  • thermolumineacence
  • photolumineacence - fluorescence/phosphorescence

Magnetism

• Diamagnetism
• Paramagnetism
• Ferromagnetism
• Ferrimagnetism

Electrical Properties

• Elecrtical Conductivity
• Piezoelectricity
• Pyroelectricity

Special Properties

• Acid reaction
• Aroma
• Taste