Mineral Hardness |
DefinitionHardness is measured by the resistance which a smooth surface offers to abrasion. The degree of hardness is determined by observing the comparative ease or difficulty which which one mineral is scratched by another. Table showing Mohs' relative hardness scale. Mohs' original hardness values are highlighted in yellow. The selection of mineral species for hardness standards is based on the common availability of the mineral. An interesting observation is the fact that each Dana class (except for organic class) of mineral is represented by at least one example.
Determinative Mineral TablesMetallic Minerals by Hardness and Streak Non Metallic Minerals by Hardness and Streak Graph showing the distribution of hardness values by Dana mineral classification. For Further Information on HardnessSearch the Mineralogy DatabaseExample Subject Searches
Search the WebAmethyst Mineral Gallery has a nice explanation of mineral hardness. |