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Why is the hardness of a mineral important?

Hardness I

The hardness is important because it is considered diagnostic - that is, you can use it to help identify the mineral. Moh's Scale of Hardness runs from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond), but here's a tip: use a glass plate to separate "soft" minerals from "hard" ones. If the mineral scratches the glass, call it hard. If it can't scratch the glass, consider it a soft mineral.

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