Mineral Hardness - Mohs Scale
The Mohs qualitative ordinal scale characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals.
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The Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals or materials through the ability of a harder materials to scratch softer materials.
| Mohs Hardness | Typical Material |
|---|---|
| 1 | Talc |
| 2 | Gypsum, Rock salt |
| 2.5 | Fingernail, pure gold, silver, aluminum |
| 3 | Calcspar (calcite), copper coin (penny) |
| 4 | Fluorspar (fluorite) |
| 4.5 | Platinum, iron |
| 5 | Apatite |
| 6 | Felspar, orthoclase, titanium, spectrolite |
| 6.5 | Steelfile, iron pyrite, glass, vitreous pure silica, streak plate |
| 7 | Quarts, amethyst, citrine, agate |
| 7.5 | Garnet |
| 8 | Topaz, hardened steel, beryl, emerald, aquamarine |
| 8.94 | Rock crystal quartz |
| 9 | African crystal corundum, ruby, sapphire |
| 9.03 | Fused alumina |
| 9.06 | Fused alumina (3.14% TiO2) |
| 9.09 | Tungsten carbid (13% cobalt) |
| 9.15 | Black silicon carbide |
| 9.32 | Boron carbide |
| 9.5 | Carborundum |
| 9.95 | Diamond, Congo clear white |
| 9.96 | Diamond, Congo yellow |
| 9.99 | Diamond, South American brown ballas |
| 10 | Diamond, South American brown bort |
Minerals and Mohs Hardnes
| Mineral | Mohs Hardnes |
|---|---|
| Acanthite | 2 |
| Acmite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Actinolite | 5.5 |
| Alabandite | 3.4 - 4.4 |
| Alamandine | 7 - 8 |
| Albite | 7 |
| Allanite | 5.5 |
| Allemontite | 3 - 4 |
| Allophane | 3 |
| Altaite | 2.5 |
| Alunite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Amblygonite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Analcime | 5 |
| Anatese | 5.5 - 6 |
| Andalusite | 6.5 - 7 |
| Andesine | 7 |
| Andradite | 6.5 - 7 |
| Anglesite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Ankerite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Annebergite | 2 |
| Anorthite | 6 |
| Anorthoclase | 6 |
| Anthophyllite | 5 - 6 |
| Anthydrite | |
| Antimony | 3 - 3.5 |
| Antlerite | 3 |
| Apatite | 5 |
| Apophyllite | 4 - 4.5 |
| Aragonite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Arfvedsonite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Argenite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Arsenic | 3.5 |
| Arsenopyrite | 5 |
| Atacamite | 3 - 3.5 |
| Augite | 5 - 6.5 |
| Aurichalcite | 2 |
| Autonite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Awaruite | 5 |
| Axinite | 6.5 - 7 |
| Azurite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Barite | 3 - 3.5 |
| Bastnaesite | 4 - 5 |
| Beidellite | 1 - 2 |
| Beryl | 7.5 -8 |
| Biotite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Bismite | 4 - 5 |
| Bismuth | 2 - 2.5 |
| Boehmite | 3 |
| Boracite | 7 |
| Borax | 2 - 2.5 |
| Boulangerite | 2.5 |
| Brannerite | 4 - 5 |
| Braunite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Bravoite | 6.5 |
| Brochantite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Bromargyrite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Bronzite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Brookite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Brucite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Bytownite | 7 |
| Calcite | 3 |
| Calomel | 1.5 - 2 |
| Calvarite | 2.5 |
| Cancrinite | 2.5 |
| Carnallite | 2.5 |
| Carnotite | 2 |
| Cassiterite | 6 - 7 |
| Celestite | 3 - 3.5 |
| Celsian | 6 - 6.5 |
| Cerargyrite | 1 - 1.5 |
| Cerussite | 3 - 3.5 |
| Cervanite | 4 - 5 |
| Chabazite | 4 |
| Chalcanthite | 2.5 |
| Chalcocite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Chalcopyrite | 3.5 |
| Chlorite | 1 - 2 |
| Chloritoid | 6.5 |
| Chondrodite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Chromite | 5.5 |
| Chrysoberyl | 8.5 |
| Chrysocolla | 2.5 - 3.5 |
| Cinnibar | 2 - 2.5 |
| Clinochlore | 2 - 2.5 |
| Clinoclase | 2.5 - 3 |
| Clinoenstatite | 5 - 6 |
| Clinoferrosilite | 5 - 6 |
| Clinohumite | 6 |
| Clinzoite | 7 |
| Cobaltite | 5.5 |
| Colemanite | 4.5 |
| Columbite | 6 |
| Copper | 2.5 - 3 |
| Cordierite | 7 |
| Corundum | 9 |
| Coveillite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Cristobalite | 6.5 |
| Crocoite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Cryolite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Cubanite | 3.5 |
| Cummingtonite | 5 - 6 |
| Cuprite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Danburite | 7 |
| Datolite | 5.5 |
| Diamond | 10 |
| Diaspore | 6.5 - 7 |
| Dickite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Digenite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Diopside | 6 |
| Dioptase | 5 |
| Dolmite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Dumortierite | 8.5 |
| Edenite | 6 |
| Embolite | 1 - 1.5 |
| Enargite | 3 |
| Enstatite | 5.5 |
| Erythrite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Espomite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Euclase | 7.5 |
| Euxenite | 6.5 |
| Fayalite | 6.5 |
| Feberite | 4.5 |
| Fergusonite | 5.5 - 6.5 |
| Ferrimolybdite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Ferrosilite | 5 - 6 |
| Fluorite | 4 |
| Forsterite | 6 - 7 |
| Franklinite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Gadolinite | 6.5 - 7 |
| Gahnite | 8 |
| Galaxite | 7.5 |
| Galena | 2.5 |
| Garnierite | 3 - 4 |
| Gaylussite | 2.5 |
| Geocronite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Gersdorffite | 5.5 |
| Gibbsite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Glauberite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Glauconite | 2 |
| Glaucophane | 6 - 6.5 |
| Gmelinite | 4.5 |
| Goethite | 5 - 5.5 |
| Gold | 2.5 - 3 |
| Goslarite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Graphite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Greenocktite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Grossularite | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| Gypsum | 2 |
| Halite | 2.5 |
| Halloysite | 2 |
| Harmotome | 4 - 5 |
| Hastingsite | 6 |
| Hausmanite | 5.5 |
| Hauynite | 5 - 6 |
| Hectorite | 1 - 2 |
| Hedenbergite | 5 - 6 |
| Helvite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Hemimorphite | 5 |
| Hercynite | 7.5 |
| Hessite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Heulandite | 3 - 3.5 |
| Hornblende | 5 - 6 |
| Huebnerite | 4.5 |
| Humite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Hyalophane | 6 - 6.5 |
| Hydrozincite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Hypersthene | 5.5 - 6 |
| Ice | 2.5 |
| Iddingsite | 3 |
| Idocrase | 6.5 |
| Illemenite | 5 - 5.5 |
| Illite | 1 - 2 |
| Ilvaite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Iodobromite | 1 - 1.5 |
| Iodyrite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Irdosmine | 6 - 7 |
| Iridium | 6 - 7 |
| Jacobsite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Jadeite | 6.5 |
| Jamesonite | 2.5 |
| Jarosite | 2.5 - 3.5 |
| Kaliophilite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Kaolinite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Kernite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Krennerite | 2.5 |
| Kyanite | 4 - 7 |
| Langbeinite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Larsenite | 3 |
| Laumonite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Lawsonite | 7.5 |
| Lazulite | 5 - 6 |
| Lazurite | 5.5 |
| Lechatelierite | 6.5 |
| Lepidolite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Leucite | 6 |
| Liebthenite | 4 |
| Limonite | 5 - 5.5 |
| Linarite | 2.5 |
| Linneaeite | 4.5 - 5.5 |
| Lithiophilite | 4 - 5 |
| Loellingite | 5 |
| Magnesite | 4 |
| Magnetite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Malachite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Manganite | 4 |
| Manganosite | 5 - 6 |
| Marcasite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Margarite | 4 |
| Marialite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Meionite | 5 - 6 |
| Melanterite | 2 |
| Melilite | 5 - 5.5 |
| Menaghinite | 2.5 |
| Miargyrite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Microcline | 6 |
| Microlite | 5 - 5.5 |
| Millerite | 3 - 3.5 |
| Mimetite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Minium | 2.5 - 3 |
| Molybdenite | 1 |
| Monazite | 5 - 5.5 |
| Monticellite | 5 |
| Montmotillonite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Mullite | 6 - 7 |
| Musscovite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Nacrite | 1 |
| Nagyagite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Natrolite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Nephheline | 6 |
| Niccolite | 5.5 |
| Nitre | 2 |
| Nontronite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Norbergite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Noselite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Oligoclase | 7 |
| Opal | 5.5 - 6 |
| Orpiment | 1.5 - 2 |
| Orthoclase | 6 |
| Ottrelite | 6 - 7 |
| Palladium | 4.5 - 5 |
| Paragonite | 2.5 |
| Pargasite | 6 |
| Pearceite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Pectolite | 5 |
| Pentlandite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Perovskite | 5.5 |
| Petalite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Petzite | 2.5 |
| Phenaktite | 7.5 - 8 |
| Phillipsite | 4.5 - 5 |
| Phlogopite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Phosgenite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Phosphuranylite | 2.5 |
| Pigeonite | 6 |
| Plagionite | 2.5 |
| Platinum | 4 - 4.5 |
| Polucite | 6.5 |
| Polybasite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Polycrase | 5 - 6 |
| Polyhalite | 2.5 - 3.5 |
| Potash alum | 2 - 2.5 |
| Powellite | 3.5 |
| Prehnite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Proustite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Pyrargyrite | 2.5 |
| Pyrite | 6.6 |
| Pyrochlore | 5 - 5.5 |
| Pyrolusite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Pyromorphite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Pyrope | 7.5 |
| Pyrophyllite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Pyrrhotite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Quartz | 7 |
| Rammelsbergite | 5.5 |
| Realgar | 1.5 - 2 |
| Rhodochrosite | 3 |
| Rhodonite | 6 |
| Riebeckite | 4 |
| Roscoelite | 2.5 |
| Rutile | 6 - 6.5 |
| Samarskite | 5 - 6 |
| Sanadine | 6 |
| Saponite | 1 - 1.5 |
| Scapolite | 6 |
| Scheelite | 4 - 5 |
| Scolecite | 5 - 5.5 |
| Scorodite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Scorzalite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Semseyite | 2.5 |
| Sepiolite | 2 |
| Serpentine | 2.5 - 3 |
| Siderite | 3.5 |
| Siegenite | 5 - 5.5 |
| Sillimanite | 7 |
| Silver | 2.5 - 3 |
| Sklodowskite | 2 - 3 |
| Skutterudite | 5.5 - 6 |
| Smithsonite | 4.5 |
| Soda nitre | 1.5 - 2 |
| Sodalite | 6 |
| Sperrylite | 6 - 7 |
| Spessartine | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| Sphalerite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Sphene | 5 - 5.5 |
| Spinel group | 8 |
| Spodumene | 6.5 - 7 |
| Stannite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Staurolite | 7 - 7.5 |
| Stephanite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Sternbergite | 1 - 1.5 |
| Stibnite | 2 |
| Stilbite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Stolzite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Stromeyerite | 2.5 - 3 |
| Strontianite | 3.5 |
| Sulphur | 1.5 - 2.5 |
| Sylvanite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Sylvite | 2.5 |
| Talc | 1 |
| Tantalite | 6 - 6.5 |
| Tennantite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Tenorite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Tephroite | 6.5 |
| Tetrahedrite | 3.4 - 4 |
| Thenardite | 2.5 |
| Thomsonite | 5 - 5.5 |
| Thorianite | 6 |
| Thorite | 5 |
| Tin | 2 |
| Topaz | 8 |
| Torbernite | 2 - 2.5 |
| Tourmaline | 7 |
| Tremolite | 5 - 6 |
| Tridymite | 6.5 - 7 |
| Triphylite | 4 - 5 |
| Troilite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Trona | 2.5 |
| Tungstite | 2.5 |
| Turquoise | 5 - 6 |
| Tyuyamunite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Ulexite | 2.5 |
| Uraninite | 5 - 6 |
| Uranophane | 2.5 |
| Uvarovite | 6.5 - 7 |
| Vanadinite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Variscite | 4 - 5 |
| Vermiculite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Violarite | 4.5 - 5.5 |
| Vivianite | 1.5 - 2 |
| Wavellite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Willemite | 5.5 |
| Witherite | 3 - 3.5 |
| Wolframite | 4.5 |
| Wollastonite | 5 |
| Wulfenite | 3 |
| Wurtzite | 3.5 - 4 |
| Xenotime | 4 - 5 |
| Zincite | 4 - 5 |
| Zinkenite | 3 - 3.5 |
| Zircon | 7.5 |
| Zoisite | 6.5 |
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