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color, refractive index, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, cleavage, density, fluorescence, radioactivity, reaction with acids or other chemicals, chemical composition, etc.

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Name three ways geologists study a rock sample?

Geologists study rock samples by analyzing their mineral composition under a microscope, conducting chemical tests to determine their elemental composition, and measuring their physical properties such as density and hardness. They may also use techniques like X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy to further study the rock's structure and properties.


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)


Why is color not a reliable why to identify a mineral?

Several minerals may be the same color. Additionally, impurities can make it so that one mineral can come in a variety of colors.


What properties would you use to determine whether two minerals samples are different minerals?

Minerals are described by physical properties related to chemical structure and composition. Characteristics include color, streak, hardness, luster, diaphaneity, tenacity, cleavage, specific gravity, parting, fracture, and crystal structure and habit, which can be changed by temperature, pressure and composition of mass.


Why do mineralogists use senses while examining?

they use their senses because they are supposed to see the Mohs scale of the rocks. They test it out, they put stuff like oil on them, and they smell, touch what it feels like and they hear the noise of the rock by banging it and when their done they write their feelings on an expiriment paper. Thank you :)

Related Questions

What properties to would you use to determine whether to mineral samples are different minerals?

You could use the streak color, whether it has cleavage or fracture, the texture, the luster, the hardness, the color, and lots of different properties.


What properties would use to determine whether two mineral samples are different minerals?

You could use the streak color, whether it has cleavage or fracture, the texture, the luster, the hardness, the color, and lots of different properties.


Why do samples dissolve in mineral oil but not water?

I don't know what these samples are of, but somethings just dissolve in oil but not in water. That's one of the properties they have.


What experiments do geologists conduct?

I suppose hardness and density tests on rock samples. Making seismic soundings and measuring the results, analyzing the data collected.


How mineralogist identify and classify materials?

there are a few basic tests to identify a material. hardness, color, lustor, crystal form, cleavage, and streak. I believe this is all of them, but it has been several years. They are classified by the same tests that identify them. For example, diamond is classified as a 10 hardness material (the only 10 hardness material) Glass is 7 hardness.


What properties would you use to determine whether two mineral samples are different minerals?

by their special properties like taste ,florescence, chemical reaction, optical properties , magnetism , radioactivity! hope helped ya :)


What are mineral samples?

Mineral samples are small pieces or specimens of minerals that are collected from natural environments such as rocks or soils. These samples are typically used for identification, research, and educational purposes in geology and mineralogy. Mineral samples can come in various sizes and forms, ranging from crystals to rough fragments.


Name three ways geologists study a rock sample?

Geologists study rock samples by analyzing their mineral composition under a microscope, conducting chemical tests to determine their elemental composition, and measuring their physical properties such as density and hardness. They may also use techniques like X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy to further study the rock's structure and properties.


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 can porcelain tile be used to idintify a mineral?

Mineral samples can be scraped across the bottom (i.e., the unglazed side) of a tile to create a colour streak which is characteristic of the mineral. Note that it takes more than a colour streak to identify a mineral. Many minerals have the same colour streak. Other characteristics such as the hardness and density will also need to be determined in order to positively identify a mineral.


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.


Can you explain why color is not a reliable method for identifying a mineral?

Colors are not a reliable method for identifying a mineral because different minerals can have the same color. Take Calcite, Halite and Gypsum for example. At first glance, all three of them appear to be the same mineral. All three of them even have the same streak and luster. However, they all have a different hardness. Calcite has a hardness of three, Halite has 2.5 and Gypsum has 2. Halite is made out of Sodium Chloride, but I wouldn't recommend tasting your mineral samples.