Usually explanation of glass transparency is given on its amorphous nature, and its short range order is of much smaller range of visible light. But crystallized glass do have lattice parameters much smaller than light. if polycrystalline growth can cause opacity( grain boundaries are crystallographic defect), then why sudden freezing of glasses introduce no optically obstructing impurity?
crystalline materials can make more multiple scattering than amorphous materials. Plus, amorphous materials have more open space in their structure than crystalline materials. Grain boundary in crystalline materials is another attenuating agent for light.
For detailed information about optical properties of material please refer to the following book.
Electronic Properties of Materials
by Rolf E. Hummel
Reflection and scattering occur on the boundary between two media with different refractive index. So, if boundary = glassy matrix and crystals have a slightly different refractive index, it will create condition for scattering. Open space in structure have no connection with reflectivity because size is too small compare with wavelength of a light. However, density of a material have influence on refractive index.
General theory of scattering described in many books. For example, Principles of Optics, by M. Born and E. Wolf. But there are many other.
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