What test is performed to determine the hardness of a mineral?
look up the MOHS Hardness scale; it consists of ten minerals ranging from the softest (#1 - talc) to the hardest (#10 - diamond)
harder minerals will scratch softer ones.
a fingernail has a hardness of about 2.5, while a penny's is 3.5
The test performed to determine the hardness of a mineral is called the Mohs hardness scale test. It is a simple and widely used method that involves scratching a mineral with a series of common materials of known hardness. The scale was developed by Friedrich Mohs in 1812 and consists of ten minerals, each assigned a number from 1 to 10 based on their relative hardness.
To perform the Mohs hardness test, you will need a set of minerals with different hardness levels, typically included in a Mohs hardness kit. The kit usually contains minerals like talc (rated 1), gypsum (2), calcite (3), fluorite (4), apatite (5), orthoclase feldspar (6), quartz (7), topaz (8), corundum (9), and diamond (10).
To determine the hardness of a mineral, follow these steps:
1. Start by finding an unweathered and clean surface of the mineral you want to test.
2. Begin the test by attempting to scratch the mineral's surface with the mineral located at the lowest end of the Mohs hardness scale (talc). Press the mineral against the mineral being tested and try to create a scratch. If a scratch is formed, move on to the next harder mineral.
3. Repeat this process with each mineral on the Mohs scale until a scratch is no longer observed on the surface of the mineral being tested. The hardest mineral that successfully scratches the mineral in question will determine its hardness rating on the Mohs scale.
By comparing the scratch patterns with the known minerals of different hardness, you can determine which mineral is harder or softer. This allows you to identify the relative hardness of the mineral you are examining.