Mohs Hardness
Scale for Minerals

One mineral can be harder than another, with the harder ones, scratching the softer ones.The Mohs Scale of 1 through 10 is used to classify the hardness of minerals. The hardness of 1 through 9, have one point between them but from 9 to 10 there is 50 points between them, so that #10 is 59 Moh.

Below is the Mohs Scale in Minerals and other materials.

#1 – Talc, the softest mineral, used to make talcum powder and rubber lubricant.
#2 – Gypsum, Alabaster, soft plastics, your finger nails, made into wall board.
#2.5 – Hard plastics.
#3 – Calcite, Copper penny.
#4 – Fluorite, Tooth Paste, Gem Stones, acid.
#5 – Apatite, Gem Stone, Steel.
#5.5 – Knife blade. (Rockwell 55)
#5.7 – Steel File. (Rockwell 70)
#6 to 6.7 – The Feldspars.
#7 – Quartz, all types.
#8 – Beryl.
#9 – Emery, Ruby, Sapphire, Chrome.
#9.5 or 29 – Carbide Rock Drill.
#10 or 59 – Diamond.

By Paul K. Kachinsky and Chris Coyle