Mohs Mineral Hardness Scale

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Directions: Complete the Mohs Mineral Hardness Scale below by drawing and coloring pictures of
each of the 10 minerals (1 color in each pic is OK) in the boxes provided. Then answer the questions that follow.

Mineral Name Hardness

Talc 1
Gypsum 2 Common Object Hardness
Calcite 3 Fingernail 2.5
Fluorite 4 Copper Penny 3
Apatite 5 Iron Nail 4.5
Feldspar 6 Glass 5.5
Quartz 7 Streak Plate 7
Topaz 8
Corundum 9
Diamond 10

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Talc Gypsum Calcite Fluorite Apatite Feldspar Quartz Topaz Corundum Diamond

1. Name two minerals on the Mohs scale that can scratch Topaz:

______________________________________ _________________________________________

2. Name two minerals on the Mohs scale that are softer than a 3:

______________________________________ _________________________________________

3. Name two common objects that could scratch fluorite:

______________________________________ __________________________________________

4. Which mineral is harder, Topaz or Quartz? __________________________________________________

5. Which mineral can scratch glass but not a streak plate? ________________________________________

6. Which mineral is harder than Calcite but won’t scratch glass? ___________________________________

7. Suppose you have an unknown mineral that can be scratched by glass but not by an iron nail. What
mineral on the Mohs scale might it be?______________________________________________________
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