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✳️Cinnabar is a toxic mercury sulfide mineral with a chemical composition of HgS. 🔷It is the only important ore of mercury. It has a bright red color that has caused people to use it as a pigment, and carve it into jewelry and ornaments for thousands of years in many parts of the world. Its […]
🔷Kimberlites, named after the town of Kimberly, South Africa, where they were first described, are volcanic rocks that originate in Earth’s mantle.🔷They are mined exclusively for diamonds. The photo shows the “Big Hole” at Kimberly.🔷The Hole was mined from 1871 to 1914 and reached a depth of 240 m below the surface. Subsequently it filled […]
Geological Time Scale The geological time scale is a system of chronological measurement that relates geological events and geological time to a numerical scale. It is used to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred throughout Earth’s history. The time scale is divided into four main parts: Eons, Eras, Periods, and Epochs. […] Table of Contents Toggle Geological Time Scale
What are Rare Earths? The Japanese call them “the seeds of technology.” The US Department of Energy calls them “technology metals.” They make possible the high tech world we live in today – everything from the miniaturization of electronics, to the enabling of green energy and medical technologies, to supporting a myriad of essential telecommunications and defense systems. […] Table of Contents Toggle What are Rare Earths?Which Elements ...
Geology 101 is the study of the Earth and its materials, structures, processes, and history. It is a broad field that encompasses many different disciplines, including mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, and geophysics. Geologists study the Earth’s physical features, including its rocks, minerals, soils, and water. They also study the Earth’s internal structure and the processes that […] Table of Contents Toggle Why Study Geology?What Do GEOSCIENTISTS ...
What is Volcano I heard about the volcano before 🤔??….We all see volcanoes in movies and news, but did you ask yourself why or how do they happen? On our trip today, we will explore the volcano and see its formation, why it happens, and how.. Are you ready, hero ??Let’s start our journey The […] Table of Contents Toggle What is VolcanoOne ...
An unconformity is a surface of erosion or non-deposition that separates two rock units that have different ages. It represents a time gap in the geologic record, and it occurs when sedimentary rocks are tilted, uplifted, and eroded before new sediment is deposited on top of them. There are three types of unconformities: Disconformities A […] Table of Contents Toggle There are three types of unconformities:
Minerals are homogeneous, naturally occurring, inorganic solids that have a definite crystalline structure and chemical composition. In 1995, the World Minerals Organization put another definition saying that “a mineral is an element or a chemical compound that is naturally crystalline and formed as a result of geological processes.”Minerals have their own specific physical properties which […] Table of Contents Toggle Minerals are classified according to their chemical composition.
The difference between mineral, metal and ores Many people confuse three completely different classes of substances (minerals, ores, and metals), so that metal becomes a mineral, and all minerals become ores. Minerals Minerals are inorganic solids (elements or compounds) that have distinct physical properties. Each substance has a known atomic structure and a fixed chemical […] Table of Contents Toggle MineralsOres materialsMetals
Geology online Quizzes questions and answers. Free online quiz with multiple-choice questions (MCQ) without registration. Geology Multiple Choice Questions geology questions and answers | geology questions for competitive exams | geology exam questions. Geology quiz questions and answers.geology quizes. Geology online quiz.
Sulfur hardness on the Mohs scale is 2. The Mohs scale is a numerical scale that ranks the minerals and their corresponding chemical compounds based on their hardness and resistance to scratching. It ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest. Sulfur, with a hardness of 2Read more
Sulfur hardness on the Mohs scale is 2. The Mohs scale is a numerical scale that ranks the minerals and their corresponding chemical compounds based on their hardness and resistance to scratching. It ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest. Sulfur, with a hardness of 2, falls within the middle range of the scale.
See lessSulfur has a hardness of **1.5 to 2.5** on the Mohs scale. This makes it relatively soft, meaning it can be easily scratched by harder minerals. Sulfur's brittleness and low hardness are characteristic of non-metallic minerals, often forming in volcanic regions or as a byproduct of certain mining prRead more
Sulfur has a hardness of **1.5 to 2.5** on the Mohs scale. This makes it relatively soft, meaning it can be easily scratched by harder minerals. Sulfur’s brittleness and low hardness are characteristic of non-metallic minerals, often forming in volcanic regions or as a byproduct of certain mining processes.
See lessSulfur is a fascinating mineral, both in its chemical composition and its geological occurrence. Its hardness on the Mohs scale, which ranges from **1.5 to 2.5**, places it among the softer minerals, meaning it can be easily scratched by many common materials. Let's dive into more detail about sulfuRead more
Sulfur is a fascinating mineral, both in its chemical composition and its geological occurrence. Its hardness on the Mohs scale, which ranges from **1.5 to 2.5**, places it among the softer minerals, meaning it can be easily scratched by many common materials. Let’s dive into more detail about sulfur’s hardness and other related properties:
### 1. **Mohs Scale of Hardness**:
The **Mohs hardness scale** is used to compare the scratch resistance of various minerals. A mineral with a higher Mohs number can scratch any mineral with a lower number. Here’s where sulfur stands:
– Sulfur has a Mohs hardness range of **1.5 to 2.5**. This variability depends on the purity and crystal structure of the sulfur sample.
– For comparison, **talc** is the softest mineral with a hardness of 1, and **diamond**, the hardest, has a rating of 10.
– Due to its softness, sulfur can be scratched by most minerals and even by a fingernail, which has a hardness of around **2.5**.
### 2. **Physical Characteristics of Sulfur**:
– **Texture**: Sulfur is quite brittle and tends to break apart when subjected to pressure. It does not possess significant toughness or resistance to deformation.
– **Color and Luster**: Pure sulfur is usually bright yellow, with a resinous to greasy luster. These properties make it visually distinctive, especially when found in its natural, crystalline form.
– **Fracture**: Sulfur often exhibits a conchoidal (shell-like) fracture, a characteristic it shares with other brittle materials.
### 3. **Why is Sulfur Soft?**:
– The softness of sulfur is related to its **atomic bonding**. Sulfur atoms are held together by relatively weak van der Waals forces in the crystal structure, rather than the stronger ionic or covalent bonds found in harder minerals.
– The weak bonds between the layers of sulfur atoms allow them to be easily separated, which is why sulfur can be scratched or crushed with little effort.
### 4. **Geological Occurrence of Sulfur**:
– **Volcanic Regions**: Sulfur commonly forms around volcanic vents and fumaroles, where it is deposited from volcanic gases.
– **Sedimentary Environments**: Sulfur can also form in sedimentary environments, particularly through the bacterial reduction of sulfate minerals, often associated with oil and gas deposits.
– **Mining**: Sulfur is often recovered as a byproduct of natural gas and petroleum refining or directly from sulfur deposits near volcanic areas.
### 5. **Industrial Importance of Sulfur**:
– Despite its softness, sulfur is incredibly important in various industries. It’s used in the manufacture of **sulfuric acid**, one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world, as well as in fertilizers, fungicides, and pharmaceuticals.
### 6. **Care and Handling**:
Because of its softness and brittleness, sulfur is not typically used in jewelry or similar applications where hardness is required. Handling sulfur crystals requires care, as they can easily crumble.
In summary, sulfur’s position on the Mohs hardness scale (1.5 to 2.5) indicates that it is a soft and brittle mineral, prone to scratching and breaking. This characteristic, combined with its unique yellow color and occurrence in volcanic regions, makes it a distinct mineral with significant geological and industrial relevance.
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