Question

Which one of the following is the hardest mineral?
A.Iron
B.Talc
C.Bauxite
D.Diamond

Answer 1

Hint:A mineral is a component or substance compound that is typically crystalline and that is created as a result of geological activities. The mineral which is the hardest is a common mineral used for jewelry and is highly valued. The Mohs scale is used to describe the hardness of a mineral.

Complete answer:
Iron: Iron is a very common metallic element, which has a dark silvery-gray appearance. The oxidation of iron results in a change in its color. Iron’s important element is steel which is used for the manufacturing of various materials from weapons, buildings, etc. It is one of the strongest and is around 5 on the Mohs scale.

Talc: Talc is a clayey mineral, constituted of hydrated magnesium silicate. On a Mohs scale, it is 1 which means it is soft and not very hard. It is an important ingredient in cosmetics.

Bauxite: Bauxite is commonly a delicate material with a hardness of simply 1 to 3 on the Mohs scale. It is white to dim to reddish-brown with a pisolitic structure, earthy shine, and low gravity of somewhere in the range of 2.0 and 2.5.

Diamond: Diamond ranks at the highest point on Mohs scale of mineral hardness, next comes topaz, quartz, feldspar, apatite, fluorite, calcite, gypsum.
They are amazingly hard because they have solidified in a specific atomic shape as a result of the extensive heat and pressure under 140- 150 km of the Earth. They are utilized for jewellery and industrial purposes.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note:Russia is known to have produced the largest amount of diamonds, followed by Botswana, Australia, etc. Diamond scored a 10 on the Mohs scale which is said to be the perfect score of hardness.