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Why is it helpful to measure the specific gravity of a mineral?

User Ozden
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Final answer:

Measuring the specific gravity of a mineral can provide information about its density, purity, and concentration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Measuring the specific gravity of a mineral can be helpful in several ways. First, it can provide information about the mineral's density, which can help in identifying the mineral. Different minerals have different densities, so specific gravity can be a useful characteristic for mineral identification. Second, specific gravity can also indicate the purity of a mineral. If the specific gravity deviates significantly from the expected value, it could suggest the presence of impurities in the mineral. Lastly, specific gravity can be used to determine the concentration of minerals in a sample. By comparing the specific gravity of a mineral sample to the specific gravity of known concentrations, the amount of minerals in the sample can be estimated.

User Gawry
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