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How you would determine the hardness of an unidentified mineral sample?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
The only way is through experimentation. You need to take a number of other minerals whose Mohs scale value you know (Mohs scale is the measure of hardness of a mineral with diamond being the hardest and talc being the least hard).
Take your unknown sample and attempt to scratch it with all your control samples. If the known mineral can scratch your sample then it is harder, if it can't - but can be scratched by your sample - then it is lower on the scale.
Eventually you will work your way to a point where you can say that your sample is harder than x but not as hard as y. Knowing the values of x and y on the Mohs scale will enable you to approximate a value for your unknown substance.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoby scratching two minerals together to see which one will scratch first
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How do you determine if a water sample is hard or soft?
The Mohs scale of hardness arranges ten common minerals order of increasing hardness and each is assigned a number: 1, talc; 2, gypsum; 3, calcite; 4, fluorite; 5, apatite; 6, orthoclase (feldspar); 7, quartz; 8, topaz; 9, corundum; and 10, diamond. Hardness of minerals is defined as the resistance of the smooth surface of a mineral to scratching. A soft surface is scratched more easily than a hard surface; so a hard mineral, such as diamond, will scratch a soft mineral, such as graphite, and the hard mineral will not be scratched by the soft. Hardness of metals is determined by impressing a small ball or cone of a hard material into the surface to be tested and measuring the size of the indentation. Hard metals are indented less than soft metals. This is known as the Brinell test
How do you determine the streak of a mineral whose Mohs scale is higher than the streak plate?
You can determine the streak of a mineral whose Mohs scale is higher than the streak plate by either filing or crushing with a hammer before rubbing the sample on a streak plate.
The origins of the mineral sample were it did not offer proof of life on Mars after all?
The origins of the mineral sample were _____; it did not offer proof of life on Mars after all. A: terrestrial
What arrangement of atoms in a repeating pattern in a mineral causes the formation of?
The arrangement of atoms in a mineral sample can cause the formation of crystals.
How do you calculate Brinell hardness number?
This test is the ability of one mineral to be scratched by another mineral and this is usually not done in conversion of mohs scale to brinell scale.
How are the characteristics of a mineral identified?
Through testing of a sample to determine hardness, luster, streak, density, and chemical composition.
Does the density of a mineral depend on the size of the mineral sample?
No, to tell how hard a mineral is you either have to test it or determine what mineral it is. Testing uses materials of known hardness such as a fingernail, or copper penny, or scratch plate, if the mineral is scratched by whatever you use to test it is softer. Hardness however is not based on size it will be the same for any sample of the same rock no matter what the size because its based on atomic arrangement and bond type.
Which mineral sample would experience the most abrasion?
Galena - cause of the hardness of only 2.5
What is the hardness of anthracite coal?
Because it is a rock, not a mineral, the Mohs value will vary significantly from sample to sample. An average range would be between 3.0 and 3.8.
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)
Which information would probably be most helpful to someone trying to identify a mineral sample?
Many igneous rocks can be identified by the position of their minerals.
Why hardness is a intensive?
Because the hardness is not dependent to the size of a material sample.
What are mineral samples?
its a sample of a mineral!
A student broke a mineral sample with a type of a hammer on a sharp chisel what property is he investigating?
He is either investigating if it is facture or cleavage. Or he could be trying to test it's hardness. He is either investigating if it is facture or cleavage. Or he could be trying to test it's hardness.
How do you Calculate the hardness of a water sample?
u can chek the hardness by pH scale...lolz
Sample problem on speed and its solution?
hardness
What sample of hardness material?
magnets steal
