Mohs Scale Ws printable pdf download

Mohs Scale Ws

Name____________________________

Mohs Scale WS

Date ________ Period _____Group ____

One way geologists identify minerals is by seeing how easily they can be scratched. The

“scratchability” of a mineral is also called its hardness and can be measured using the Mohs

Hardness Scale.

Imagine that you have been given samples of the ten minerals listed in the Mohs Hardness

Scale. However instead of being labeled by name, the samples are labeled only with code

letters. Use the following clues and chart of the Mohs Scale to determine the identity of each

mineral. Then write your results on this page, indicating the identity of minerals A-J.

Mohs Hardness Scale

Mineral

Hardness Identity

Talc

Gypsum

Calcite

Fluorite

Apatite

Feldspar

Quartz

Topaz

Corundum

Diamond

1. Mineral A scratches minerals E and I, but can be scratched by mineral J.

2. Mineral C can be scratched by every other mineral.

3. Mineral E can scratch mineral I.

4. Mineral F can scratch only mineral C.

5. Mineral B can scratch mineral F, but it can be scratched by all the other minerals except C.

6. Mineral H can scratch every other mineral.

7. Mineral D can be scratched only by mineral H.

8. Mineral G can be scratched by mineral H and D; it can scratch mineral J.

Use the scale below to list out your minerals from softest to hardest, then add their identities to

the data table above.

Softest

Hardest

Mohs Scale Ws