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Moh's Scale

The Mohs Scale is a qualitative scale that characterizes the scratch resistance of minerals by testing which minerals can scratch others. It was created in 1812 by German geologist Friedrich Mohs and ranks minerals on a scale of 1 to 10 based on their hardness. While useful for identifying minerals in the field, the Mohs scale does not reflect how well minerals perform industrially.

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Racel Angelica de Guzman
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89 views4 pages

Moh's Scale

The Mohs Scale is a qualitative scale that characterizes the scratch resistance of minerals by testing which minerals can scratch others. It was created in 1812 by German geologist Friedrich Mohs and ranks minerals on a scale of 1 to 10 based on their hardness. While useful for identifying minerals in the field, the Mohs scale does not reflect how well minerals perform industrially.

Uploaded by

Racel Angelica de Guzman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Mohs Scale

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a qualitative ordinal scale that characterizes
the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to
scratch a softer material. It was created in 1812 by the
German geologist and mineralogist Friedrich Mohs and is one of several definitions
of hardness in materials science, some of which are more quantitative. The method of
comparing hardness by seeing which minerals can visibly scratch others, however, is
of great antiquity, having been mentioned by Theophrastus in his treatise On Stones,
c. 300 BC, followed by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia, c. 77 AD. While
greatly facilitating the identification of minerals in the field, the Mohs scale does not
show how well hard materials perform in an industrial setting.

Mining

Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the
earth from an orebody, lode, vein, seam, reef or placer deposits which forms the
mineralized package of economic interest to the miner.

Common minerals that can use in everyday life

Beryl- Used in the nuclear power, fluorescent lamps, x-ray tubes and strong alloys are
used in aircrafts. Beryl is also a gemstone with many varieties such as emerald and
aquamarine. Hardness (8)
Calcite- A mineral, consisting largely of calcium carbonate, is the second most
abundant mineral on Earth. Calcite uses include animal feed, antacids, chemical
industry, dough strengthener, decorative stone in buildings, building construction,
filter in baking powder, glass industry, manufacture of paper, optical purposes,
photography, statues and waste treatment. Hardness (3)

Copper- this native element is used in electric cables and wires, switches, plumbing,
heating, roofing and building construction, chemical and pharmaceutical machinery,
alloys (brass, bronze), electroplated protective coatings and cooking utensils.
Hardness (3)

Diamond- Used in cutting tools; blades, saws and also beautiful gemstones in
jewelry. Hardness (10)

Fluorite- Used in production of hydrofluoric acid and is used in pottery, ceramics,


optics, electroplating, and plastics. Fluorite is also used for emery wheels, electric arc
welders, toothpaste, and paint pigment. Hardness (4)

Gold- Used in dentistry and medicine, jewelry and arts and in medallions and coins
for scientific and electronic instruments. Hardness (3)
Graphite- Used in pencils and as lubricants for machinery. Hardness (2)

Gypsum- Used as prefabricated wallboard, plaster of Paris, cement manufacture and


agricultural purposes as fertilizer and soil conditioner. Hardness (2)

Halite- This mineral is used for food seasoning and food preservation and making
acids, chlorine, ceramic glazes, metallurgy, curing of hides, mineral waters, soap
manufacture, home water softener, highway deicing, photography, herbicides, fire
extinguishing, nuclear reactors, mouthwash, medicinal purposes, in scientific
equipment for optical parts. (2)

Iron - Used in the manufacture of steels of various types. Powdered iron: used in
metallurgy, magnets, auto parts, medicinal purposes, paints, printing inks, plastics,
makeup, fertilizer ingredient; enamel finishes for autos and appliances. Hardness (4)

Pyrite- This mineral is used in the manufacture of sulfur, sulfuric acid, and sulfur
dioxide, also used to make costume jewelry. Hardness (6)

Quartz- As crystals, quartz is used as gems, with numerous varieties. It is also used to
make sandpaper and other abrasives, soap, and ceramics, pressure gauges, oscillators,
heat-ray lamps, prisms, and spectrographic lenses, glass, paints, and it is also used in
high-tech items such as radios, TVs, Clocks, watches and computers.
Quartz is the most common mineral in the Earth’s crust and one of its most useful. In
modern times, it has moved from the ground right into your house. Along with its list
of uses for everyday items it was the first crystal used in radio wave transceivers.
Because of its unique properties it serves as many useful purposes in everyday life.
Hardness (7)

Silver- Uses include photography, chemistry, jewelry, electronics, as currency, alloys,


chemical reaction vessels, water distillation, a catalyst in manufacture of ethylene,
mirrors, electric conductors, batteries, plating, table cutlery, dental, medical, and
scientific equipment, electrical contacts, bearing metal, magnet windings and solder.
Hardness (3)

Sulfur- Used for fungicides, sulfuric acid, explosives, kills bacteria, vulcanizes
rubber, used in coal fuels and fertilizers. Hardness(2)

Talc- Uses include baby powder, soapstone, and in gymnastics to grip the bars.
Hardness (1)

Vanadanite- Source of vanadium, used to harden steel. Hardness (3)

Wavellite- Found in sedimentary deposits, used for fertilizer and jewelry. Hardness
(4)

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