Geology Collection / Mohs Scale
The hardness of a mineral is its resistance to being scratched. Hardness is one of many tests that can be performed on minerals to identify them. The scale of hardness was developed by Friedrich Mohs and is a relative scale. Minerals may be tested with other minerals in the Mohs Scale as well as everyday objects such as: fingernails (2.5), pennies (3.5), knives (5.5), and glass (5.5).
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Talc |
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Orthoclase Hardness: 6 |
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Gypsum Hardness: 2 |
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Quartz Hardness: 7 |
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Calcite Hardness: 3 |
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Topaz Hardness: 8 |
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Fluorite |
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Corundum Hardness: 9 |
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Apatite Hardness: 5 |
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Diamond Hardness: 10 |