Wisconsin Geological Society Contacts

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President:
VP/Program: Bob Bialecki  (414)372-9613
Junior Rockhounds:
Show Chairman: Paul Schmidt (414)771-8668
Business Liason: Margaret Pearson (414)464-0781
Bulletin: The Trilobite   Editor: Verna Schmidt   pvs@wi.rr.com

Meeting: 7 pm, 2nd Monday, Sept-June Parish Hall of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, (South end, Hall, downstairs), 1212 So. 117th St., West Allis, WI, 53214

Membership includes the following:
Monthly Meetings- Monthly Newsletter- Lapidary Group- Fossil Meetings- Mineral Meetings- Annual Show- Lots of fellowship in a common interest!
Membership is: Single $15.00 per year - Family $20.00 per year

Mohs Scale

  • In 1812 the Mohs scale of mineral hardness was devised by the German mineralogist Frederich Mohs (1773-1839), who selected the ten minerals because they were common or readily available.
    • 1-Talc Talcum powder.
    2-Gypsum Plaster of paris. Gypsum is formed when seawater evaporates from the Earth’s surface.
    3-Calcite Limestone and most shells contain calcite.
    4-Fluorite Fluorine in fluorite prevents tooth decay.
    5-Apatite When you are hungry you have a big "appetite".
    6-Orthoclase Orthoclase is a feldspar, and in German, "feld" means "field".
    7-Quartz
    8-Topaz emerald and aquamarine are varieties of beryl with a hardness of 8.
    9-Corundum Sapphire and ruby are varieties of corundum. Twice as hard as topaz.
    10-Diamond Used in jewelry and cutting tools. Four times as hard as corundum.