The hardness of the stone (x/5 rating, covered further in section below). Sometimes this is simplified into what type of application the stone could be good at (razor stone, polishing stone, etc.) or as soft/medium/hard. 3/5, etc. stones are, as well as from about 300 other stone ratings from community members or vendors, but at the end of

What Is the Mohs Hardness Scale? The Mohs scale ranks gemstones from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 the hardest. A stone's Mohs 

In evaluating a gemstone's durability, gem experts consider three factors: 1) hardness, 2) toughness, and 3) stability. No single gemstone scores a "perfect 10," so you should weigh all three of these factors when choosing which gemstone or piece of jewelry is right for you. Diamond is the hardest gemstone, but not necessarily the toughest.

To give an example of how the scale works, topaz can scratch all gems with a lower rating but can be scratched by diamond, sapphire and ruby. Mohs' Gemstone Hardness Scale 10 Diamond 9 Sapphire, Ruby 8 Topaz 7.5-8 Aquamarine, Emerald, Morganite, Peridot 7 Quartz, Garnet, Citrine, Tourmaline, Onyx 6 Opal, Jade 5 Apatite 4 Fluorite 3 Calcite

Surprisingly, quartz has an absolute hardness 100 rating. Compare that to diamonds, with an absolute hardness of 1,500, and you can see how hard quartz really is. Quartz is a popular choice partly because of its hardness, and partly because it's virtually maintenance free. However, some homeowners prefer the looks of other stones.

Mohs Scale of Relative Mineral Hardness · Talc - (Absolute Hardness 1) · Gypsum – (Absolute Hardness 2) · Calcite – (Absolute Hardness 9) · Fluorite – (Absolute 

Mohs Scale of Hardness compares the resistance of a mineral to being scratched by ten standard reference minerals that vary in hardness. You calculate Mohs 

Mohs hardness scale is a chart that measures how resistant a gemstone or mineral is to being scratched or damaged when exposed to general wear and tear.

Can be scratched with a knife and any stone rated 7+. Will scratch any stone rated 5-. 7: Quartz Tourmaline: Will scratch glass and any stone rated 6-. Can be scratched by stones 8+. 8: Topaz Spinel: Will scratch glass and any stone rated 7-. Can be scratched by stones 9-10. 9: Corundum (ruby, sapphire) Will scratch glass and any stone rated 8-.

Unique Hardness Levels. The basic 1-10 Mohs hardness scale numbers don't apply to all minerals, and there are some irregularities you may come 

Dec 12,  · In gemology, a stone's hardness is gauged on a scale called the Mohs Scale, which allocates minerals a hardness rating between 1 for the softest and 10 for the hardest stones. The Mohs Scale was created in 1822, by a German mineralogist named Frederick Mohs. It characterizes hardness depending on the gem's scratch-resistance, in which a harder