How the Mohs Scale Ranks Hardness

The Mohs hardness scale is used to rank the hardness of minerals and gemstones, as well as everyday objects. These 10 minerals are always included in the hardness test. National Park Service

Key Takeaways

Geologists and gemologists use the Mohs hardness scale to measure the "scratchability" of minerals and gemstones, ranking them based on their ability to scratch or become scratched by other substances.
To perform the Mohs hardness test, drag one specimen across another to see if it leaves a scratch. This will help you determine which of the two is harder. You don’t need special tools; you can perform this simple test on a kitchen table.
Diamond, being the hardest mineral on the Mohs scale, can scratch all other minerals, while every other mineral will scratch talc, the softest on the scale.

Diamonds are forever. Whether that holds true symbolically is not for us to say, but diamonds do stand the test of time geologically; they're among the toughest gemstones on Earth.

Just how strong diamonds are was classified using a scale developed in the early 19th century: the Mohs hardness scale. Diamonds rank No. 10 on the scale, meaning they're one of the hardest known substances around.

Contents

History of the Mohs Scale
The Mohs Hardness Test
Where Stuff Ranks

History of the Mohs Scale

Developed by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1812, the scale classifies minerals according to their hardness. He was inspired by the way botanists grouped plants by physical characteristics, and by Pliny the Elder who had compared the hardness of diamond and quartz more than 1,000 years earlier.

Mohs expanded on the work of Pliny by delineating 10 values of hardness that placed minerals in relation to each other based on a scratch test. Mohs selected 10 specific minerals of different hardness that ranged from a very soft (talc) to a very hard (diamond). Before his scale, minerals were classified by chemical composition, which lacked consistency, according to the European Geosciences Union blog.

The Mohs Hardness Test

The Mohs hardness scale is the standard geologists and gemologists use to grade minerals and gemstones. They use the Mohs hardness test to determine "scratchability" of a material. So because diamond can scratch quartz, diamond is considered harder than quartz.

It's pretty easy to perform this test in a lab or on your kitchen table. Start with two specimens with unmarred surfaces. Hold one motionless against the table surface. Drag a sharp point of the second specimen firmly across the surface of the other. If a scratch appears, the second specimen is harder than the one on the tabletop. If not, the second specimen is either softer or the same level of hardness. In that case, reverse the test to see whether specimen one can scratch specimen two.

Just make sure what you are calling a scratch is a groove in the specimen and not residue of a soft material used to do the test.

Where Stuff Ranks

On the Mohs scale of 10 minerals, diamond is hardest at No. 10, and talc is softest, at No. 1. Just about any substance can be ranked on the scale, for example, ruby is a 9, tanzanite is about a 6 to 7, and soapstone countertops are around a 3. The hardness of more than minerals and rocks can be measured, too. A fingernail is a 2.5, so it won't scratch a diamond, but neither will a steel nail, which ranks at 6.5.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are everyday applications for the Mohs scale outside of geology and gemology?

You can apply the Mohs hardness scale in various industries, including construction and manufacturing, to select materials that are appropriate for specific uses based on their resistance to scratching and wear.

What are the limitations of the Mohs hardness scale in modern scientific research?

Despite its usefulness, the Mohs hardness scale lacks precision. Additionally, the non-linear spacing between minerals make it less suitable for detailed scientific research that requires exact measurements of hardness.