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When you scratch minerals together, you can observe the hardness of each mineral relative to the other. The harder mineral will leave a scratch on the softer one, allowing you to assess their hardness using the Mohs scale, which ranks minerals from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). This process can help identify the minerals based on their physical properties and is a common method in mineralogy. Additionally, the color of the powder left behind, called streak, can also aid in identification.

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3w ago

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How can you determine hardness rate for minerals?

Use the scratch test.


When determine which minerals will scratch other minerals you would need to refer to the what?

When determining which minerals will scratch other minerals, you would need to refer to the Mohs Hardness Scale. The scale ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest) and is a tool used to measure the relative hardness of different minerals based on their ability to scratch each other.


Moh's Scale is used to determine this.?

It's used to determine the hardness of minerals - from talc (1) to diamond (10).


What do scientists use to determine mineral hardness?

Scientists use the Mohs scale of mineral hardness to determine the relative hardness of minerals. This scale ranks minerals from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest) based on their ability to scratch or be scratched by other minerals. By performing a scratch test, scientists can identify a mineral's hardness by comparing it to known minerals on the Mohs scale.


What mineral can scratch all the minerals?

Diamonds are proven to scratch all minerals including itself.


A minerals hardness with respect to other minerals can be determined by?

scratching the mineral acrros a glass plate


What is a Mohs scale used to determine?

The Mohs scale is used to determine the hardness of minerals. It assigns a hardness rating from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest) based on the ability of one mineral to scratch another.


Which minerals cannot scratch any minerals by itself?

Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring mineral and can scratch all other minerals. Talc is the softest of minerals and cannot scratch any other mineral.


How does the Mohs hardness scale work and how is it used to determine the relative hardness of minerals?

The Mohs hardness scale measures the hardness of minerals on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest. It works by comparing the ability of one mineral to scratch another. By testing the scratch resistance of a mineral against known minerals on the scale, geologists can determine its relative hardness.


Can minerals and common objects with the same hardness scratch each other?

No, minerals and common objects with the same hardness are not able to scratch each other and leave a mark behind. For example, minerals with a hardness of 2.5 - 3 include gold and silver. Try scratching two pieces of jewellery made of gold and silver. It does not make a mark at all!


What do you call when you scratch a rock on something?

When you scratch a rock on something, it’s often referred to as testing the rock's hardness or conducting a scratch test. This is commonly done to identify minerals using the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which ranks minerals based on their ability to scratch one another. The process can help determine the composition and characteristics of the rock or mineral being tested.


What property are geologists focusing on when they do scratch tests?

Geologists focus on the hardness property of minerals when they perform scratch tests. This test helps determine the resistance of a mineral to being scratched by another material, which can be indicative of its mineral type.