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What else can I help you with?
If a mineral can be scratched by a fingernail but not by a pocket knife what does that tell us about the mineral?
It would have a Mohs hardness somewhere between 2.5 and 5.5.
What mineral property are you testing if a fingernail scratches a mineral?
If a fingernail can scratch a mineral, you are testing the mineral's hardness. Hardness is a measure of a mineral's resistance to being scratched by other materials. Minerals are ranked on the Mohs scale of hardness from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
What is the most reliable clue in identifying a mineral?
The most reliable clue in identifying a mineral is its crystal structure, which is determined by the internal arrangement of atoms in the mineral. Other helpful clues include its hardness, color, luster, and cleavage or fracture patterns.
Measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched which is determined b the arrangement of of a minerals atom?
This property is known as the hardness of the mineral. It is determined by the strength and arrangement of atoms within the mineral's structure, affecting how easily it can be scratched by other materials. Hardness is measured using the Mohs scale, which ranks minerals from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
What property is generally the least useful in identifying minerals color hardness cleavage streak?
Color is generally the least useful property for identifying minerals because it can vary widely even within the same mineral due to impurities or environmental factors. Many minerals can appear in multiple colors, making it an unreliable identifier. In contrast, properties like hardness, cleavage, and streak provide more consistent and measurable characteristics for accurate identification.
What is another property in identifying a mineral?
The properties in identifying minerals are color,luster,hardness,cleavage and fracture,and streak.
What are the the tests scientists use to identify minerals?
Hardness test based on the Mohs Scale of relative mineral hardness, specific gravity, streak test for mineral color, classification of mineral crystal system, chemical analysis.
Which mineral Which mineral property is the least reliable for identifying a mineralproperty is the least reliable for identifying a mineral?
Color is often the least reliable property for identifying a mineral because many minerals can occur in various colors or shades due to impurities. Other properties such as hardness, cleavage, and specific gravity are more useful for mineral identification.
How hardness defined when identifying minerals?
Hardness is the ability of a mineral to resist being scratched. A diamond is the hardest mineral--which means that no other mineral can scratch it.
When is hardness defined when identifying minerals?
Hardness is the ability of a mineral to resist being scratched. A diamond is the hardest mineral--which means that no other mineral can scratch it.
What property might you test by rubbing one mineral directly against another mineral?
You could test for the property of hardness by seeing which mineral scratches the other. The mineral that scratches the other is the harder one.
A mineral that can by a steel file The property you are testing is the mineral's?
Hardness
How magnetism can be useful for identifying minerals?
Magnetism can be useful for identifying minerals because certain minerals exhibit magnetic properties due to the presence of magnetic elements like iron or nickel. By observing a mineral's response to a magnet, geologists can infer its composition and potentially identify it. This can help in mineral exploration and resource assessment.
What does the property of mineral hardness measure?
Mineral hardness measures the resistance of a mineral to scratching or abrasion. It is determined by the ability of a mineral to scratch another mineral or be scratched by it, as defined by the Mohs scale of hardness.
Why isn't luster a good property to identify minerals?
Luster is not a good property for identifying minerals because many minerals look similar. Your best way of knowing which mineral is which is by measuring their hardness.
What does the property of hardness measure?
Hardness measures a mineral's resistance to being scratched.
What is the most reliable physical property that can be used to identify a mineral?
The most reliable physical property to identify a mineral is its chemical composition. This is because each mineral has a unique combination of elements that make up its structure, which can be determined through chemical testing. Additionally, properties like hardness, cleavage, and specific gravity can also aid in identifying minerals.
