What is the Mohs Scale of Hardness? Everything You Should Know

Consider the example of a diamond. How did you know that a diamond was strong enough to be hit by a hammer and not break into a million pieces?

We were able to know that because of a certain scale called the Mohs hardness scale. To all the people who are unrelated to the gemstone world, the first thought that would pop up is, "What is the Mohs scale of hardness?"

Learn how gemstones are measured for durability and browse options with suitable hardness from our Gemstone Online Shop, helping you make informed choices when purchasing your favorite stones.

What is the Definition of a Mohs hardness scale?

The Mohs Hardness Scale is a ten-number set that tests minerals and informs us about their hardness. On a Mohs scale of 1–10, 1 is the lowest level of hardness, and 10 is the highest. Diamond has a Mohs hardness level of 10, i.e., it has the highest hardness level. You can always refer to the standard Mohs scale of hardness chart for some reference.

Using a Mohs Hardness Scale

Using a Mohs hardness scale is actually pretty easy. For example, you take two unknown minerals, X and Y. Let's assume that you have no idea about their hardness levels. You don't know which mineral is tougher. To test their hardness level, you are going to gently start scratching one mineral with another. You can take it and scratch it to Y or vice versa.

On whatever mineral you notice the scratch first, it is the softer mineral among the two. There might be a possibility that neither of the minerals scratch equally. In that case, you might want to bring in a third mineral, Z. Understanding hardness helps in selecting long-lasting stones, and many affordable crystals come with great durability—perfect for everyday use and experimentation.

With the third mineral, Z, you would want to repeat the same process as you did with X and Y and see which mineral is tougher, Z or the other two.

So, this is how you can conduct a Mohs hardness scale test and learn about the hardness of any mineral.

The Importance of a Mohs Hardness Scale

Why is it important to conduct a Mohs hardness test on every mineral? What is the result of conducting it? Why is it important? There might be so many questions in your head about this. Let us answer these questions.

As you know, a Mohs hardness scale helps us determine the hardness level of a mineral. By knowing their hardness level, one can figure out the proper way to take care of the mineral, however you use it. Usually the minerals are used in jewelry, and the hardness level determined by a Mohs hardness scale helps us understand how much care a mineral needs.

It helps you save your minerals and not lose them to basic mistakes like leaving a soft mineral exposed to heat or cleaning a soft mineral with harsh materials that could scratch it easily.

Taking care of your soft gems is crucial, especially if you're working with beautiful Cabochons For Sale—knowing how to treat them ensures your handmade jewelry retains its charm for years.

Other than care, it also helps us identify more minerals that might exist but we don't know about.

Difference Between the Durability and Hardness of a Gemstone

Let’s get to the terms first. By hardness of a mineral, we are looking at the stone’s ranking on a Mohs hardness scale. We are looking at whether the stone is a 5, a 6, or any other number. By durability, we mean its ability to survive with low or no maintenance. A stone can be a solid 6-7 on a hardness scale but might easily chip off when even slightly hit with something. So hardness and durability are two very different things. The hardness of the stone says nothing about its durability, and vice versa.

What Are the Limitations of a Mohs Hardness Scale? 

The major limitation of a Mohs hardness scale is its inaccuracy, or, as we may say, lack of precision. It also leaves damage on the stone. If a mineral X is softer than a mineral Y and a hardness test is conducted between them, If X is softer than Y, then X is going to be left with a permanent scratch mark.

Conclusion

This is everything that one needs to know about a Mohs hardness scale. Now you are aware of the importance, usage, and limitations of a Mohs hardness scale. There are many other ways to determine the hardness of a mineral as well. It might not be the best way to determine a stone’s hardness level, but this is the method that has been preferred for a very long time. Therefore, you can select whichever option suits you the most. One of the significant advantages of the Mohs scale is its simplicity. It relies on a straightforward principle: if a mineral can scratch