The Mohs Scale of Hardness

Apr 12 2002

Background

The Mohs hardness scale is a relative scale usually used for minerals and does not involve any measurement of deformation, as do other quantitative methods. It simply involves the assignment of a number that relates to the hardness of other key minerals. The scale is as follows, with 1 being the softest and 10 the hardest:

Mohs no.

Mineral

1

Talc

2

Gypsum

3

Calcite

4

Fluorite

5

Apatite

6

Orthoclase

7

Quartz

8

Topaz

9

Corundum

10

Diamond

The assignment of a Mohs hardness number is determined by a simple scratch test. where the mineral is able to scratch the standard mineral of a lower number.

 

Primary author: AZoM.com

 

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