Table of Contents
- 1 Can lower Mohs scratch higher?
- 2 Will a mineral with a lower Mohs hardness number will scratch a mineral with a higher Mohs hardness number?
- 3 How hard is basalt on the Mohs scale?
- 4 Can something softer scratch something harder?
- 5 What is the hardest mineral based on Mohs scale of hardness?
- 6 Which list below has the minerals in their correct order from lowest to highest hardness on the Mohs hardness scale?
Can lower Mohs scratch higher?
According to Wikipedia’s article on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, materials / minerals with a higher rating cannot be “visibly” scratched by materials with a lower rating. It goes on to admit that microscopic dislocations on the harder material do emerge though by trying to scratch it.
Will a mineral with a lower Mohs hardness number will scratch a mineral with a higher Mohs hardness number?
talc gypsum 3 calcite 4 fluorite 5 apatite 6 orthoclase (a common form of potassium feldspar) 7 quartz 8 topaz 9 corundum 0 diamond. Minerals with a higher hardness number with scratch all minerals with a lower hardness numbers and two minerals of the same hardness will scratch each other.
Which mineral can scratch harder than which?
Diamond
Diamond is the hardest mineral; no other mineral can scratch a diamond. Quartz is a 7. It can be scratched by topaz, corundum, and diamond. Quartz will scratch minerals that have a lower number on the scale.
Can a mineral scratch another mineral with a higher hardness?
Because of these known differences in hardness, the Mohs Scale becomes one of a number of tools that can be used in the process of identifying unknown mineral specimens. A mineral or other material with a higher hardness number can scratch anything with an equal or lower number.
How hard is basalt on the Mohs scale?
On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, basalt scores a six – meaning it’s harder than platinum or iron. Colours: Another geological category basalt belongs to is mafic stone. These are stones with a high volume of iron and magnesium, which grants them a rich dark colour – often grey, black or green.
Can something softer scratch something harder?
Through friction, no, a softer object cannot abrade a harder one. But through impact, a soft object can break a harder one.
What mineral can scratch glass but would get scratched by a steel nail?
Mineral Hardness Test Video
| Mineral | Hardness |
|---|---|
| Calcite | |
| INTERMEDIATE Mineral cannot be scratched with a fingernail but can be scratched with a steel nail. | |
| Gypsum | |
| SOFT Mineral can be scratched with a fingernail |
Can fluorite be scratched by a fingernail?
A minerals rating on the hardness scale is determined by a scratch test. Since Fluorite is a 4 on the scale it means that fluorite can scratch all the minerals below it but not be scratched by them. Also if a penny can scratch a mineral it rates a 3, a fingernail is 2.5, knife blade 5.5, glass 5.5 and steel file 6.5.
What is the hardest mineral based on Mohs scale of hardness?
diamond
Talc is the softest and diamond is the hardest. Each mineral can scratch only those below it on the scale.
Which list below has the minerals in their correct order from lowest to highest hardness on the Mohs hardness scale?
Diamond is always at the top of the scale, being the hardest mineral. There are ten minerals in Mohs scale, talc, gypsum, calcite, fluorite, apatite, feldspar, quartz, topaz, corundum, and for last and hardest, diamond.
What mineral can scratch all other minerals?
Rocks are made up of one or more minerals. According to the scale, Talc is the softest: it can be scratched by all other materials.
What mineral can be scratched by every other mineral?
Diamond, the hardest known natural substance, can produce a scratch on virtually all other substances, but can easily be shattered by the blow of a hammer.) Keep in mind that the Mohs scale does not indicate exact hardness, which depends upon the purity of the mineral sample and its degree of crystallinity.