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  • How is hardness defined when identifying minerals

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    Hardness of minerals examples

  • Hardness of minerals examples
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    • Hardness

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    Definition

    Hardness is a measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching and abrasion, reflecting the strength of the bonds between its atoms. It is one of the most important properties used in mineral identification, helping to differentiate between minerals and classify them based on their physical characteristics.

    The hardness of a mineral can be assessed using various scales, the most famous being Mohs scale, which ranks minerals from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond) based on their ability to scratch one another.

    5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

    1. Hardness is determined by the type of bonding in a mineral; covalent bonds typically create harder minerals than ionic or van der Waals bonds.
    2. A mineral’s hardness can affect its uses; for example, diamonds are used in cutting tools due to their extreme hardness.
    3. Scratch tests are commonly used to determine hardness, where a harder mineral is used to scratch a softer one.
    4. Some minerals have variable hardness depending on their crystal structure or impurities; for example, quartz typically has a hardn

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