Mohs Hardness Scale
The Mohs scale is one of the most important tests for mineral diversity.
This measurement compares a mineral's resistance to scratching to the Mohs
hardness scale of 10 minerals. Since most samples of a given mineral
are close to the same hardness, it is evaluated. It is also a strong
symbolic property for many minerals. Although there are many methods
and systems used to measure the hardness of a material, the most common
of these is the Mohs Hardness Scale. A system established by Friedrich Mohs in 1812,
the Mohs Hardness Scale is a type of table used to test and compare the hardness of
different minerals. The scale, which can be described as ordinal rather than linear or logarithmic,
provides a rough measure of a mineral's hardness based on its smooth surface resistance to scratching and abrasion.
Mohs Hardness Scale
Talc |
Gypsum |
Calcite |
Fluorite |
Apetite |
Orthoclase |
Quartz |
Topaz |
Corundum |
Diamond |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Soft |
Medium Hardness |
Hard |
Very Hard |