Final answer:
The luster of a mineral describes how it scatters light, which can be metallic (shiny like metal and opaque) or non-metallic (allowing some light to pass through). Streak is the color of the powdered mineral and can help distinguish between metallic and non-metallic minerals. Cleavage can be observed by how a mineral surface reflects light when illuminated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic way a mineral surface scatters light is referred to as its luster. Luster can be broadly categorized as metallic or non-metallic. Metallic luster means the mineral has a shiny appearance similar to that of polished metal; it does not allow light to pass through the atomic structure.
Streak is another characteristic that helps determine a mineral's identity. This is the color of a mineral when it is in powdered form after being scraped on a ceramic plate. It can be a helpful diagnostic tool, especially for minerals with a metallic luster, whereas with non-metallic minerals, the streak is often white or the same color as the mineral itself.