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Can minerals and common objects with the same hardness scratch each other?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
No, minerals and common objects with the same hardness are not able to scratch each other and leave a mark behind. For example, minerals with a hardness of 2.5 - 3 include gold and silver. Try scratching two pieces of jewellery made of gold and silver. It does not make a mark at all!
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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How rocks can be identified by hardness?
The hardness of a rock is identified using Mohs Scale of Hardness. Certain rocks and minerals have a predetermined hardness level based on this scale, which uses the obvious logic that if something scratches something else, then it must be harder than that which it scratches. Likewise, if something doesn't scratch something else, it must be softer than that which it cannot scratch. Using a scale from 1 to 10, common objects can be used to determine hardness level. A fingernail, for example, has a hardness of 2.5. Any rock that can be scratched by a fingernail (talc, for example) has a hardness less than 2.5. A streak plate, which is commonly used for hardness tests, has a hardness of 6.5. Diamonds, the hardest minerals, define the 10 on the hardness scale. Using these common objects and their related hardnesses, one can easily identify the rock in question.
What minerals have a hardness of 7 on the mohs scale?
Topaz is a common mineral with a hardness of 8 on the Moh's hardness scale. This means it can scratch glass and cannot be scratched with a knife blade or masonry (steel) nail.
Name 4 ways that are used in the hardness scale for identifying minerals?
The Mohs scale of hardness determines a mineral's hardness by comparing it to the hardness of common household objects: 1. streak plate (unglazed porcelain)= 6.5 2. glass, masonry nail, knife blade= 5.5 3. wire (iron) nail= 4.5 4. brass (wood screw, washer)= 3.5 5. copper coin (penny)= 3.0 6. fingernail= 2.5
What is the Mohs hardness of sandstone?
That depends on what minerals make up the sandstone. A very common sandstone is quartz arenite, and therefore on the Mohs scale of hardness it would be a seven.
How is the Mohs scale of mineral hardness used?
The Mohs scale is used to aid in quick field identification of minerals, along with other techniques. Mohs based the scale on ten minerals that are all readily available. As the hardest known naturally occurring substance, diamond is at the top of the scale. The hardness of a material is measured against the scale by finding the hardest material that the given material can scratch, and/or the softest material that can scratch the given material. For example, if some material is scratched by apatite but not by fluorite, its hardness on the Mohs scale would fall between 4 and 5. Hardness Mineral 1 Talc (Mg3Si4O10(OH)2) 2 Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) 3 Calcite (CaCO3) 4 Fluorite (CaF2) 5 Apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH-,Cl-,F-) 6 Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8) 7 Quartz (SiO2) 8 Topaz (Al2SiO4(OH-,F-)2) 9 Corundum (Al2O3) 10 Diamond (C)
How rocks can be identified by hardness?
The hardness of a rock is identified using Mohs Scale of Hardness. Certain rocks and minerals have a predetermined hardness level based on this scale, which uses the obvious logic that if something scratches something else, then it must be harder than that which it scratches. Likewise, if something doesn't scratch something else, it must be softer than that which it cannot scratch. Using a scale from 1 to 10, common objects can be used to determine hardness level. A fingernail, for example, has a hardness of 2.5. Any rock that can be scratched by a fingernail (talc, for example) has a hardness less than 2.5. A streak plate, which is commonly used for hardness tests, has a hardness of 6.5. Diamonds, the hardest minerals, define the 10 on the hardness scale. Using these common objects and their related hardnesses, one can easily identify the rock in question.
How do you find hardness of an unknown mineral?
There are two ways. One way is to buy a scratch test kit and follow the instructions. They will tell you to try to scratch minerals of certain hardnesses and find the hardest one it can scratch. For example, if it scratches a mineral with a hardness of 6 but not one with a hardness of 7, the hardness would be between 6 and 7. If you do not have one of those available, you can try scratching common objects. Your fingernail is 1.5, a penny is 2.5, a pocketknife blade is 5.0, window glass is 5.5, a steel file is 6.5, and quartz is 7.0.
What are the common physical properities of minerals?
the common physical properities of minerals is hardness , streak , color
How would a mineral collector determine the hardness of an unknown mineral specimen?
There are two ways. One way is to buy a scratch test kit and follow the instructions. They will tell you to try to scratch minerals of certain hardnesses and find the hardest one it can scratch. For example, if it scratches a mineral with a hardness of 6 but not one with a hardness of 7, the hardness would be between 6 and 7. If you do not have one of those available, you can try scratching common objects. Your fingernail is 1.5, a penny is 2.5, a pocketknife blade is 5.0, window glass is 5.5, a steel file is 6.5, and quartz is 7.0.
What minerals have a hardness of 7 on the mohs scale?
Topaz is a common mineral with a hardness of 8 on the Moh's hardness scale. This means it can scratch glass and cannot be scratched with a knife blade or masonry (steel) nail.
What are four common properties of minerals?
Common mineral properties are hardness, cleavage, crystalline structure, color, luster, and opacity.
Is the mineral galena able to scratch other rocks?
The scratch resistance of rock forming minerals is measured using Mohs hardness scale. This is a relative hardness scale ranging from 1 - 10 (with 1 being the softest e.g. Talc and 10 being the hardest - Diamond).AGalena has a Mohs scale hardness of 2.5 - 2.75.B This is low by the standards of common rock forming minerals. As such it is unlikely that Galena will be capable of scratching the majority of other rocks or rock forming minerals.Source of data - see external links:A Mohs hardness scale - WikipediaB Galena - Wikipedia
Name 4 ways that are used in the hardness scale for identifying minerals?
The Mohs scale of hardness determines a mineral's hardness by comparing it to the hardness of common household objects: 1. streak plate (unglazed porcelain)= 6.5 2. glass, masonry nail, knife blade= 5.5 3. wire (iron) nail= 4.5 4. brass (wood screw, washer)= 3.5 5. copper coin (penny)= 3.0 6. fingernail= 2.5
What is the Mohs hardness of sandstone?
That depends on what minerals make up the sandstone. A very common sandstone is quartz arenite, and therefore on the Mohs scale of hardness it would be a seven.
How is the Mohs scale of mineral hardness used?
The Mohs scale is used to aid in quick field identification of minerals, along with other techniques. Mohs based the scale on ten minerals that are all readily available. As the hardest known naturally occurring substance, diamond is at the top of the scale. The hardness of a material is measured against the scale by finding the hardest material that the given material can scratch, and/or the softest material that can scratch the given material. For example, if some material is scratched by apatite but not by fluorite, its hardness on the Mohs scale would fall between 4 and 5. Hardness Mineral 1 Talc (Mg3Si4O10(OH)2) 2 Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) 3 Calcite (CaCO3) 4 Fluorite (CaF2) 5 Apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH-,Cl-,F-) 6 Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8) 7 Quartz (SiO2) 8 Topaz (Al2SiO4(OH-,F-)2) 9 Corundum (Al2O3) 10 Diamond (C)
What is the range for Moh's Hardness scale?
what type of breakage is more common deavage or fracture
What mineral is harder than talc?
US and Canadian pennies (cents) are actually 97% zincwith a thin plating of copper. The zinc has a Moh's hardness of 3 and the copper a Moh's hardness of 2.5. The Moh's scale runs up to 10, with most minerals being harder than 3. The only significant minerals lower than 3 are gypsum, alabaster and graphite. Most common minerals range from 6 - 8 on this scale.
