Mohs scale
Mohs scale of mineral hardness was created by the German Frederich Mohs. He based it on ten readily available minerals. The scale is not linear, for example corundum is twice as hard as topaz.
| Hardness | Mineral | Absolute Hardness |
|---|---|---|
| Talc (Mg3Si4O10(OH)2) | ||
| Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) | ||
| Calcite (CaCO3) | ||
| Fluorite (CaF2) | ||
| Apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH-,Cl-,F-)) | ||
| Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8) | ||
| Quartz (SiO2) | ||
| Topaz (Al2SiO4(OH-,F-)2) | ||
| Corundum (Al2O3) | ||
| Diamond (C) |
The table has been extended
| Hardness | Mineral |
|---|---|
| Liquid | |
| Gypsum | |
| Calcite | |
| Fluorite | |
| Apatite | |
| Orthoclase | |
| Vitreous pure silica | |
| Quartz | |
| Topaz | |
| Garnet | |
| Fuzed zirconia | |
| Fuzed alumina | |
| Silicon carbide | |
| Boron carbide | |
| Diamond |