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Quartz because its harder than calcite and the quartz in thicker.
Quartz, with a hardness of 7, will scratch calcite, with a hardness of 3.
Quartz is much harder than calcite.
Quartz is harder than calcite, making it more scratch-resistant. Quartz also has a higher melting point than calcite. Additionally, quartz is typically transparent or translucent, whereas calcite can be transparent, translucent, or opaque.
Fluorite and apatite are two minerals that are harder than calcite but softer than quartz on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. They have hardness values of 4 (fluorite) and 5 (apatite) respectively, compared to 3 for calcite and 7 for quartz.
Quartz is generally better for jewelry than calcite due to its hardness and durability. Quartz has a Mohs hardness of 7, making it more resistant to scratching and chipping compared to calcite, which has a hardness of 3. This makes quartz better suited for everyday wear and longevity in jewelry pieces.
You can distinguish quartz from calcite by conducting a hardness test, as quartz is harder than calcite. Additionally, you can test for effervescence with acid - calcite will fizz in acid while quartz will not react. Lastly, observing the cleavage patterns can also help differentiate the two minerals, as quartz has no cleavage while calcite has rhombohedral cleavage.
Quartz- hardness 7 on Mohs Scale. (Calcite: 3, galena 2.5, talc 1)
Calcite is the opaque compound calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It will dissolve in carbonic acid and will fizz in stronger acids. Quartz is the usually transparent compound silicon dioxide (SiO2). It will not dissolve in acid.
Quartz is hard enough to scratch calcite, as it has a higher hardness rating on the Mohs scale. However, quartz is not hard enough to scratch amphibole minerals, which are generally harder than calcite.
Quartz sand is more resistant to weathering and erosion compared to gypsum sand or calcite sand because quartz is harder and less soluble in water. Gypsum sand is softer and easily dissolves in water, while calcite sand is more susceptible to chemical weathering. As a result, quartz sand is able to withstand wind and water erosion more effectively over time.
Why is quartz harder steel