Friedrich mohs, a german mineralogist, developed the scale in 1812. Carl frederich mohs scale of hardness for rocks and minerals. I specialize in 3rd5th grade products lessons, activities, games, worksheets, and smart board lessons in a variety of subject areas. How to perform mohs scratch test mohs scale of hardness table 1. As indicated in the attached lesson document, a mineral can only be scratched by something with a greater hardness. In this sense, the mohs scale of hardness becomes an indispensable system for mineral identification out in the field. Use the chart to answer the questions about mineral hardness. For example, if you scatch your specimen with glass, you know its hardness is less than 6.
Card sort of the mohs hardness scale students match the correct scale point with the mineral and what it is used for. Displaying top 8 worksheets found for mineral hardness. After students complete the scale, they should glue it into their journal for future use in this unit. Diamond, the hardest natural substance known to man, has a value of 10. Reference materials may be expected to have a uniform mohs hardness. Mohs hardness scale name one of the most useful properties used for identification of a mineral is its hardness. In the next section, students will demonstrate mohs hardness scale with some mineral samples.
Mohs hardness scale lab millersburg area school district. This chart compares the hardness of index minerals of the mohs hardness scale an integer scale with their vickers hardness a continuous scale. Worksheets are mohs hardness scale, mohs mineral hardness scale 20 directions, name date mohs hardness scale student resource information, sixth grade minerals, minerals, geology laboratory mineral. These hardness values are relative and based on a scale of naturally occurring minerals. This product is a one page worksheet on the mohs hardness scale. Minerals worksheet on mohs hardness scale this product is a one page worksheet on the mohs hardness scale. In 1812 the mohs scale of mineral hardness was devised by the german mineralogist frederich mohs 17731839, who selected the ten minerals because they. May 10, 2011 this is a class assignment, all credits go to artist. If you enjoyed this product, you may want to check out my tpt store. The scratchability of a mineral is also called its hardness and can be measured using the mohs hardness scale.
Mohs hardness scale and comparison to common items. Showing top 8 worksheets in the category mohs scale. The most common scale of measurement is the ordinal mohs hardness scale. Pdf exploring the relationship of scratch resistance, hardness. Despite its simplicity and lack of precision, the mohs scale is highly relevant for field geologists, who use the scale to roughly identify minerals using scratch kits. Minerals are chemically pure solids found in nature. The above approach would also apply in determining the scale to use which would accurately measure the correct hardness when approximate case depth and hardness are known. It is also perhaps the most useful single test for identifying and describing minerals. Some of the questions are straight forward while others will require some higher level thinking. Mineral properties mohs hardness scale grade 7 free. You can also use other physical properties of an unknown mineral specimen such as color, luster, streak, and specific gravity to help.
The mohs scale hardness of minerals can be commonly found in reference sheets. From your rocks and minerals set, collect the minerals listed in table 1. Mohs displaying top 8 worksheets found for this concept some of the worksheets for this concept are mohs hardness scale, mohs mineral hardness scale 20 directions, name date mohs hardness scale student resource information, fourth grade minerals, activity 20 testing the hardness of common minerals maine, rocks and minerals, sixth grade minerals, science content standards rocks. As we have learned understanding the ground the tunnel will go through is arguably the most important factor in. Nov 30, 2018 can you name the minerals in the mohs hardness scale. The hardness of a mineral is a good tool for helping to identify it. Igs may receive customer referral fees from the companies listed in this page. His scale of testing consisted of a scratching bar, which increased in hardness from one end to the other.
He was born in to a merchants family in gernrode, germany. Explain that minerals with higher numbers can scratch minerals with lower numbers. The mohs hardness scale and chart for select gems home. Some of the worksheets displayed are mohs hardness scale, mohs mineral hardness scale 20 directions, hardness of minerals i the mohs scale, name date mohs hardness scale student resource information, science content standards rocks and minerals, geology laboratory mineral properties, 1 talc, identifying rocks and minerals using. Thank you for choosing to purchase the mohs hardness scale worksheet. Smaller differences in hardness can be determined using the 30 n scale. Mohs scale of mineral hardness simple english wikipedia. Soapstone is relatively soft because of its high talc content, talc having a definitional value of 1 on the mohs hardness scale. Mohs scale of hardness the british tunnelling society.
Students should also understand that this is a valuable contribution of friedrich mohs, a mineralogist. The samples of matter used by mohs are all different minerals. Whichever one scratches the other is harder, and if both scratch each other they are the same hardness. Minerals worksheet on mohs hardness scale earth science. You can use the minerals in the mohs hardness scale to determine the hardness of an unknown mineral.
If you can, test your specimen against other points to get a good idea of its hardness. It is also perhaps the most useful single test for identifying and describing minerals you use the mohs hardness scale by testing an unknown mineral against one of the standard minerals. Browse mohs scale of hardness resources on teachers pay teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources. The mohs hardness of a mineral is determined by observing whether its surface is scratched by a substance of known or. All minerals high on the list can scratch all the listed minerals below them. Mohs hardness scale lab lancaster high school hayhurst page 2 materials for this experiment you will need. Some of the worksheets for this concept are mohs hardness scale, minerals, mohs mineral hardness scale 20 directions, sixth grade minerals, bringing earth science to life, mineral id lab, geology laboratory mineral properties, rocks and minerals.
Students will also understand the mohs hardness scale. Diamonds are approximately seven times as hard as quartz. Mohs scale of mineral hardness in 1812 the mohs scale of mineral hardness was devised by the german mineralogist frederich mohs 17731839, who selected the ten minerals because they were common or readily available. How could you use the chart to identify the hardness of a mineral. I ask students to complete the mohs hardness scale, using the provided word bank, to become familiar with minerals of varying hardness. Pdf the mohs scale is enshrined in geoscience curricula as a simple and effective tool for identifyin minerals and understanding the. Students can work alon eor in pairs to complete the card sort. The mohs hardness scale is used to determine the relative hardness of minerals compared to a standard set of 10 minerals, ranging from talc softest to diamond hardest. I use the mohs hardness scale ooh, ooh, ooh there is talc, gypsum. The most commonly used test of mineral hardness is mohs hardness scale. Using this scale, any other mineral may be given a hardness number. Next, the teacher will begin presenting the information on mohs scale of mineral hardness. The scale is not a linear scale, but somewhat arbitrary.
All other minerals and natural substances have a value somewhere between 1 and 10. Identifying rocks and minerals using the mohs hardness test. The first worksheet tests more samples of rocks while the second worksheet works well as a mini lab. The mohs scale of mineral hardness is based on the ability of one natural sample of mineral to scratch another mineral visibly.
Mohs scale is ordered by hardness, determined by which minerals can scratch other minerals. Select a fresh, clean surface on the specimen to be tested. Lay out minerals on the sheet of paper to protect the surface of the desk or table. For example, mica lies between gypsum and calcite in hardness. May, 2019 mohs hardness scale was devised in 1812 by friedrich mohs and has been the same ever since, making it the oldest standard scale in geology. This worksheet has 10 questions that refer to mohs hardness scale and the field hardness scale. Mohs scale of mineral hardness the mohs scale was devised by friedrich mohs in 1812. For example, quartz is a 7 on the hardness scale so it would be able to. The mohs hardness scale is useful because of its simplicity. Mohs hardness scale worksheet download printable pdf. A minerals hardness is a measure of its relative resistance to scratching, measured by scratching the mineral against another substance of known hardness on the mohs hardness scale. 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. Therefore, mica is said to have a hardness number of 2. You use the mohs hardness scale by testing an unknown mineral against one of the standard minerals.
He refers to using one hard mineral to scratch another, presaging the mohs hardness scale. I place the mohs scale of hardness sheet on the overhead and point out the numbers, minerals, and common things used to test. Created in 1812 by german geologist and mineralogist friedrich mohs, it is one of several definitions of hardness in materials science, some of which are more quantitative. Find the traditional scale here and a chart of select gems ordered by hardness. For each student pair, make one copy of student resource 1. Mar 15, 2020 most people dont carry around examples of all ten levels of the mohs hardness scale, but you probably have a couple of points in your possession. Worksheets are mohs hardness scale, mohs mineral hardness scale 20 directions, name date mohs hardness scale student resource information, sixth grade minerals, minerals, geology laboratory mineral properties, water wise work, fifth grade minerals. May, 2014 a scale of hardness makes hardness of materials measurable, and especially in the field of geology, allows one to test, verify and ultimately help identify a mineral. Mohs hardness scale earth science lessons, 6th grade. Free elementary science lesson plans rocks and minerals. Imagine that you have been given samples of the ten minerals listed in the mohs hardness scale. Talc is a hydrated magnesium sheet silicate, which is repellent to water and chemically inert. What is a common use for the mineral that is mined at the southern end of the two.
This lab was created because a mohs rock hardness test kit can be very expensive, but a few items can test rock. The mohs hardness scale measures a minerals hardness by means of a simple scratch test, name the mineral that belongs in each step of the mohs hardness scale chart. Mohs scale of mineral hardness university of arkansas. They test a fingernail, a penny, a knife blade, a metal file, and several unknown minerals and rocks using.
First, students will be able to test a piece of talc with their fingernail. The degree of hardness was determined by the position on the bar that the metal being tested would scratch. Mohs hardness, rough measure of the resistance of a smooth surface to scratching or abrasion, expressed in terms of a scale devised 1812 by the german mineralogist friedrich mohs. Minerals worksheet on mohs hardness scale worksheets. Using the mohs hardness scale below, which of the following statements is false. Fundamentals of rockwell hardness testing like the brinell, vickers, knoop, scleroscope and leeb tests all of which fall in the general category of indentation hardness tests the rockwell test is a measure of the resistance of material, specifically metals, to permanent indentation. The mohs hardness of a mineral is determined by observing whether its surface is scratched by a substance of known or defined hardness. Eighth grade lesson mineral properties betterlesson. Download, fill in and print mohs hardness scale worksheet pdf online here for free. The mohs hardness scale is used as a convenient way to help identify minerals. Mohs scale of hardness what is it and how to test for it. Exploring the relationship of scratch resistance, hardness.
Mohs hardness scale hardness calcite aoatite earth science if8755. Mohs scale of mineral hardness is named after friedrich mohs, a mineralogist. In 1822, the mohs scale of hardness was introduced for minerals and measures the relative hardness of ten minerals. Hardness mineral associations and uses 1 talc talcum powder. Testing diamond myths in 2019 5 insights on real diamonds that help spot fake diamonds duration. The mohs hardness scale measures a minerals resistance to scratching. Fifth graders examine what the mohs hardness scale is before testing a number of minerals to determine their place on the scale. Formally, the hardness of a mineral is ranked by mohs hardness scale named after austrian mineralogist friedrich mohs, which lists 10 reference minerals that are arranged in increasing order of hardness. After studying chemistry, mathematics and physics at the university of halle. On mohs scale talc, the softest mineral substance known to man, has a value of 1. Mineral properties mohs hardness scale grade 7 free printable tests and worksheets helpteaching. Most people dont carry around examples of all ten levels of the mohs hardness scale, but you probably have a couple of points in your possession.
Talc is the worlds softest mineral and the lowest mineral on mohs scale. Mineral id lab hardness derry area school district. Mineral hardness displaying top 8 worksheets found for this concept some of the worksheets for this concept are mohs hardness scale, minerals, mohs mineral hardness scale 20 directions, sixth grade minerals, bringing earth science to life, mineral id lab, geology laboratory mineral properties, rocks and minerals. Some of the worksheets for this concept are mohs hardness scale, minerals, mohs mineral hardness scale 20 directions, sixth grade minerals, bringing earth science to life, mineral id lab, geology. Arrange your minerals in order of hardness as in mohs scale. This is a class assignment, all credits go to artist. I hope that you will find this worksheet useful in your classroom. To determine its hardness, you could try to scratch it with minerals on the mohs hardness scale. Mohs hardness scale lyrics i see a rock sittin there, how hard is it. Apatite, orthoclase, quartz, topaz, ooh, corundum and diamond and now theres one through ten of the mohs hardness scale, lets use it, mohs hardness scale ooh, ooh, ooh now i know that quartz can scratch a window glass and topaz can scratch quartz and corundum to topaz oh yeaaa and diamond can scratch all the other ones. You use the scale by testing your unknown mineral against a known standard.
Click on popout icon or print icon to worksheet to print or download. The worksheet allows students to practice using the mohs hardness scale by answering questions that require students to refer to the scale. Hold the sample and attempt to scratch it with the point of the object of. Indentation hardness is not a fundamental property of a. Carl frederich mohs scale of hardness for rocks and minerals biography of carl friedrich christian mohs 1773 to 1839 frederich mohs was a german geologist and mineralogist.