Mineral Cleavage and Hardness

The video tutorial by Professor Dave explains how to identify minerals based on their physical characteristics such as luster, color, cleavage, and fracture patterns. It discusses the importance of cleavage in mineral identification, using examples like graphite and quartz. The tutorial also covers the Mohs Hardness Scale, which ranks minerals by their ability to scratch each other, and provides practical tips for using common objects to estimate mineral hardness. The video concludes by relating atomic structures to macroscopic properties and introduces the next topic of crystal chemistry.

How can scratching a mineral with a fingernail help in identifying its hardness?

What is the Mohs Hardness Scale and how is it used to classify minerals?