Hardness
Scale
(these values can vary!)
|
|
Mineral
(or other item) |
Mohs
Scale |
Absolute
Hardness (not used in this class) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Talc |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Piece of chalk |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gypsum |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
Plaster of Paris |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Fingernail |
2.5 |
|
|
|
|
Pure gold, silver, aluminum |
2.5 - 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calcite |
3 |
9 |
|
|
|
Bronze |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Copper (penny) |
3 - 3.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fluorite |
4 |
21 |
|
|
|
Iron nail |
4 – 4.5 |
|
|
|
|
Platinum |
4 – 4.5 |
|
|
|
|
Iron |
4 - 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apatite |
5 |
48 |
|
|
|
Knife |
5.5 |
|
|
|
|
Masonry nail |
5.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orthoclase |
6 |
72 |
|
|
|
Titanium |
6 |
|
|
|
|
Iron pyrite |
6.5 |
|
|
|
|
File |
6.5 |
|
|
|
|
Streak plate |
6.5 |
|
|
|
|
Glass, Vitreous pure silica |
6 - 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quartz |
7 |
100 |
|
|
|
Garnet |
7 – 7.5 |
|
|
|
|
Hardened steel |
7 - 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beryl - Topaz |
8 |
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corundum |
9 |
400 |
|
|
|
carborundum |
9 – 9.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diamond |
10 |
1,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|