The unknown mineral has a hardness greater than that of apatite (which has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale) since it can scratch it. However, it has a hardness less than corundum (which has a hardness of 9) since it can be scratched by it. Therefore, we can conclude that the hardness of the unknown mineral is between 5 and 9 on the Mohs scale.
Pyrite
A mineral can be tested for hardness using a fingernail, penny, or nail, which are common items that serve as reference points on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. For instance, a fingernail has a hardness of about 2.5, while a copper penny is around 3.5. If a mineral can be scratched by a fingernail, it is softer than 2.5; if it can be scratched by a penny but not a fingernail, it falls between 2.5 and 3.5. This simple test helps in identifying the mineral's hardness and assists in classification.
The mineral that can scratch feldspar and can be scratched by garnet is quartz. Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, making it capable of scratching feldspar, which has a hardness of 6. Meanwhile, garnet has a hardness of around 6.5 to 7.5, allowing it to scratch quartz but not all varieties of garnet will scratch quartz.
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.
hardness
hardness
Talc is the softest mineral and can be scratched by any other mineral.
hardness is how easily a mineral can be scratched
The term for this is "hardness".
Gypsum is a mineral commonly found in drywall that is easily scratched due to its low hardness on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Hardness is the measure of how easily a mineral is scratched.
Hardness
Calcite is a mineral that can be easily scratched by a steel nail due to its relatively low hardness compared to steel.
Gypsum (number 2 on the Moh's Hardness Scale)
Magnatite is the mineral that has a nonmatallic luster, is black, and can be scratched by a fingernail.
True, hardness is determined by how easily a mineral can be scratched. The Mohs scale is commonly used to measure hardness, with higher numbers indicating greater hardness.