The gems sapphire and ruby are two varieties of the mineral corundum (Al₂O₃).Considering the Mohs hardness of corundum,which mineral listed below would be able to scratch the gems sapphire and ruby? A) quartz B) feldspar C) topaz D) diamond

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Diamond is the hardest mineral on the Mohs Scale with a ranking of 10, while sapphire and ruby have a ranking of 9. Therefore, diamond would be able to scratch sapphire and ruby, while the other options (quartz, feldspar, and topaz) would not be able to scratch them.

The Gems Sapphire and Ruby Are Two Varieties of the Mineral