How to Use a Hand Lens, Streak Plate & the Mohs Scale
Geologists use tools help them identify rock and minerals, map outcrops, and get a close look at their samples. Some tools are strictly for the laboratory but some are great in the lab and out in the field. We like those the best! In these short articles, you can learn how to use a hand lens, streak plates, household items, and the Mohs Hardness Scale to identify rock and mineral samples that you have in your Mini Me Geology kits or ones that you find out in nature.
- How to Use Streak Plates
Streak plates are a great tool to start to determine the identity of your minerals. First, choose a mineral...
- How to Focus a Hand Lens / Hand Magnifier
Hand lens (also called hand magnifiers) are tools that geologists use to see fine details of rock and mineral...
- Identifying a Mineral Using Mohs Hardness Scale
The hardness of a mineral is often used by geologists to help determine the identity of a sample. The...