Graphite and Talc
bcsj
On the Mohs hardness scale, Stibnite is about 2 while fingernails are about 2.2-2.5. This means that stibnite is softer than a fingernail, but only slightly.
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.
The Mohs hardness scale is a commonly used hardness scale for minerals. It is on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest). You can purchase Mohs hardness kits which has a variety of minerals with known hardnesses that you can test your rock against. What you will do is try and scratch your rock with the minerals in the kit. If the mineral in the kit removes material from your rock then your rock is softer. Continue up or down the scale until you find where your rock lies, probably in between two rocks. It will be difficult to measure if your rock is something like sandstone or has an inconsistent composition because certain parts of the rock will be harder than others and sandstone has a very loose bond. Talc (1 on the scale) is one of the softest minerals and diamond is the hardest (10 on the scale). Onyx is also very hard (9 on the scale). If you don't have a scale then you can use your fingernail which is approximately 2.5, a penny is approximately a 3.5, glass is a 5.5, and a knife is a 7.
mohs scale of hardness
Alexandrite is approximately 8.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which is significantly softer than most minerals.
bcsj
On the Mohs hardness scale, Stibnite is about 2 while fingernails are about 2.2-2.5. This means that stibnite is softer than a fingernail, but only slightly.
The human fingernail can just scratch gypsum, but is softer than all other minerals.
There are no other minerals that are softer than talc. On Moh's hardness scale, diamonds are the hardest mineral, and talc is the softest mineral in the world.
scratching the mineral acrros a glass plate
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. Ithardnesses
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.
Glass has a hardness of 5.5 Minerals with hardness nearest to that of glass include apatite, which is slightly softer than glass with a hardness of 5.0, and orthoclase, which is slightly harder than glass with a hardness of 6.0.
It is the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. It characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. The scale assigns numbers 1-10. 10 being the hardest of minerals(e.g. diamonds), and 1 being the softest minerals(e.g. talc). Generally minerals with a H<5 are softer minerals and minerals H>5 are harder.
If the nail is made of metal alloy with a Mohs hardness of 2.5-3 or greater, and the gold is pure, yes.
In 1822 scientist Friedrich Mohs developed a scale to measure the hardness of minerals. A mineral will scratch other minerals softer than itself and will be scratched by minerals that are harder.