apatite will not scratch quartz topaz calcite or corundum
The unknown mineral would be topaz. Topaz lies between apatite and corundum on the Mohs scale, making it capable of scratching apatite and being scratched by corundum.
Fluorite, which has a hardness of 4 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, can scratch calcite (hardness 3) but will not scratch apatite (hardness 5). Thus, fluorite fits the criteria of being able to scratch calcite while not being able to scratch apatite.
Calcite is a mineral that can be easily scratched by a steel nail due to its relatively low hardness compared to steel.
Diamond can scratch talc but is not scratched by calcite. Diamond is the hardest mineral on the Mohs scale, making it capable of scratching minerals with a lower hardness, like talc.
Somewhere between 3 and 5 on the Mohs scale of relative mineral hardness...
On the Mohs mineral hardness scale, calcite is about a 3, and apatite is about a 5. So, whatever is at a hardness of 4 will scratch a 3 but not a 5. That mineral is fluorite.
apatite with a steel knife feldspar with window glass
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.
Quartz is harder than apatite, quartz being a 7 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale and apatite being a 5.
apatite will not scratch quartz topaz calcite or corundum
The unknown mineral would be topaz. Topaz lies between apatite and corundum on the Mohs scale, making it capable of scratching apatite and being scratched by corundum.
True, apatite can scratch calcite. This is because apatite has a higher hardness on the Mohs scale, rated at 5, while calcite is rated at 3. The hardness scale measures a mineral's ability to scratch another, so a mineral with a higher rating can scratch one with a lower rating.
No, appetite (also known as apatite) is not hard enough to scratch calcite. Calcite is a mineral that is harder than appetite on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Fluorite would be able to scratch calcite but not apatite, as fluorite has a higher hardness than calcite but a lower hardness than apatite on the Mohs scale.
Fluorite, which has a hardness of 4 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, can scratch calcite (hardness 3) but will not scratch apatite (hardness 5). Thus, fluorite fits the criteria of being able to scratch calcite while not being able to scratch apatite.
Calcite is a mineral that can be easily scratched by a steel nail due to its relatively low hardness compared to steel.