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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.

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What type is Sample E on Mineral Identification on Gizmos?

Sample E on the Mineral Identification Gizmo is Quartz. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, a white streak, and breaks with a conchoidal fracture.


Why is a blank solution used in morhs method?

A blank solution is used in the Mohs hardness test to serve as a point of reference for comparison. By observing how the blank solution interacts with the unknown mineral sample, the tester can accurately assess the hardness of the sample by determining if it scratches, is scratched by, or is comparable in hardness to the blank solution.


What type is Sample H on mineral identification on Gizmo?

I'm sorry, but I do not have access to specific tools or external platforms like Gizmo, so I cannot provide the mineral type for Sample H. However, mineral identification typically involves assessing properties such as color, hardness, luster, and streak. If you can provide more details about Sample H, I would be glad to help with the identification process.


What technique do you use in the laboratory to determine the ions present in a mineral sample?

One technique commonly used to determine the ions present in a mineral sample is X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). In XRF analysis, the sample is bombarded with X-rays, causing it to emit fluorescent X-rays characteristic of the elements present. The emitted X-rays are then detected and used to identify and quantify the different elements and ions in the sample.


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.

Related Questions

How are the characteristics of a mineral identified?

Through testing of a sample to determine hardness, luster, streak, density, and chemical composition.


How the hardness of diamond is measured?

The hardness of a diamond is measured using the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance and is rated at a 10 on the Mohs scale. To determine the hardness of a material, a sample of known hardness is used to scratch the surface of the material in question; if the material is scratched, it has a lower hardness rating than the sample.


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.


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.


What type is Sample E on Mineral Identification on Gizmos?

Sample E on the Mineral Identification Gizmo is Quartz. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, a white streak, and breaks with a conchoidal fracture.


What type is sample F on mineral identification on gizmos?

In the mineral identification activity on Gizmos, sample F is typically categorized based on its physical and chemical properties, such as hardness, color, streak, luster, and cleavage. The properties observed can help determine whether it is a silicate, carbonate, or another type of mineral. To accurately classify sample F, one would need to analyze these characteristics in comparison to known mineral samples. For the specific classification of sample F, please refer to the Gizmos platform or instructional materials provided.


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 a blank solution used in morhs method?

A blank solution is used in the Mohs hardness test to serve as a point of reference for comparison. By observing how the blank solution interacts with the unknown mineral sample, the tester can accurately assess the hardness of the sample by determining if it scratches, is scratched by, or is comparable in hardness to the blank solution.


Which stateement about a mineral sample found in a fiel is most likely to inference?

A mineral sample found in a field likely indicates the presence of an underlying mineral deposit in the area. Geologists can analyze the mineral properties to determine the type and potential economic value of the deposit. The sample may provide valuable information about the geological processes that occurred in the area.


Which mineral sample would experience the most abrasion?

A diamond sample would experience the most abrasion due to its hardness, which is the highest on the Mohs scale. Diamond is often used in cutting and grinding tools for its excellent abrasive properties.


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.