Gemdle

Mohs Hardness Scale

The Mohs hardness scale ranks minerals 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond) by what scratches what. Here’s where common crystals and gemstones fall — handy for identification, since a knife (≈5.5) and a quartz point (7) are field tests you can do at home.

StoneValue
TalcMohs 1 (defining mineral)
MolybdeniteMohs 1–1.5
OrpimentMohs 1.5–2
RealgarMohs 1.5–2
GypsumMohs 1.5–2 (defining mineral for 2)
VivianiteMohs 1.5–2
StichtiteMohs 1.5–2
SulfurMohs 1.5–2.5
SeleniteMohs 2
StibniteMohs 2
ErythriteMohs 1.5–2.5
AurichalciteMohs 2
AmberMohs 2–2.5
CinnabarMohs 2.0–2.5
BismuthMohs 2–2.5
MuscoviteMohs 2–2.5 parallel to {001} 4 right angle to {001}
AcanthiteMohs 2.0–2.5
SeraphiniteMohs 2–2.5
BoraxMohs 2–2.5
HaliteMohs 2.0–2.5
FuchsiteMohs 2.5
UlexiteMohs 2.5
LinariteMohs 2.5
GalenaMohs 2.5–2.75
LepidoliteMohs 2.5–3
CrocoiteMohs 2.5–3
GoldMohs 2.5–3
SilverMohs 2.5–3
CopperMohs 2.5–3
BiotiteMohs 2.5–3.0
AnglesiteMohs 2.5–3.0
ChrysotileMohs 2.5–3
BruciteMohs 2.5 to 3
ChrysocollaMohs 2.5–3.5 (7 for chrysocolla chalcedony, high-silica content)
WulfeniteMohs 3
CalciteMohs 3 (defining mineral)
BorniteMohs 3–3.25
CelestineMohs 3.0–3.5
JetMohs 2.5–4.0
BariteMohs 3–3.5
CerussiteMohs 3 to 3.5
DescloiziteMohs 3 – 3.5
AngeliteMohs 3.5
VanadiniteMohs 3–4
Red CoralMohs 3–4
HowliteMohs 3.5
PearlMohs 2.5–4.5
CavansiteMohs 3 - 4
AdamiteMohs 3.5
MalachiteMohs 3.5–4
AzuriteMohs 3.5 to 4
CupriteMohs 3.5 to 4
RhodochrositeMohs 3.5–4
ChalcopyriteMohs 3.5–4
AragoniteMohs 3.5–4
SphaleriteMohs 3.5–4
DolomiteMohs 3.5–4.0
HeulanditeMohs 3.5–4
PyromorphiteMohs 3.5–4
MimetiteMohs 3.5–4
WavelliteMohs 3.5 - 4
AntigoriteMohs 3.5–4
PowelliteMohs 3.5-4
BrochantiteMohs 3.5–4.0
FluoriteMohs 4 (defining mineral)
MagnesiteMohs 3.5–4.5
StilbiteMohs to 4
SideriteMohs 3.75–4.25
PyrrhotiteMohs 3.5 – 4.5
TugtupiteMohs 4
SerpentineMohs 2.5–6 (original) 3.5–4.0 (antigorite) 2.5 (lizardite) 2.5–3.0 (chrysotile)
PurpuriteMohs 4–5
VarisciteMohs 4.5
SmithsoniteMohs 4.5
ChabaziteMohs 4-5
ColemaniteMohs 4.5
KyaniteMohs 4.5–5 parallel to one axis 6.5–7 perpendicular to that axis
LarimarMohs 4.5 - 5
ApophylliteMohs 4.5–5
HemimorphiteMohs 4.5–5
PectoliteMohs 4.5 – 5
WollastoniteMohs 4.5 to 5.0
ScheeliteMohs 4.5–5
LegranditeMohs 4.5–5
ApatiteMohs 5 (defining mineral)
ScoleciteMohs 5 to
OkeniteMohs –5
DioptaseMohs 5
ThomsoniteMohs 5–
FluorapatiteMohs 5
Lapis LazuliMohs 5–5.5
DatoliteMohs 5 to 5.5
TitaniteMohs 5–5.5
AnalcimeMohs 5–5.5
GoethiteMohs 5.0–5.5
TurquoiseMohs 5–6
CharoiteMohs 5 - 6
ObsidianMohs 5–6
Snowflake ObsidianMohs 5–6
BronziteMohs 5–6
MoldaviteMohs 5.5
EudialyteMohs 5–6
HaüyneMohs 5 to 6
EnstatiteMohs 5 to 6
NatroliteMohs 5–6
CancriniteMohs 5–6
ChromiteMohs 5.5
IlmeniteMohs 5–6
CobaltiteMohs 5.5
ActinoliteMohs 5–6
TremoliteMohs 5–6
SodaliteMohs 5.5–6
OpalMohs 5.5–6
HyperstheneMohs 5.5–6
ScapoliteMohs 5.5–6
Fire OpalMohs 5.5–6
LazuliteMohs 5.5–6.0
AugiteMohs 5.5 to 6
AmblygoniteMohs 5.5–6
ArsenopyriteMohs 5.5–6
HackmaniteMohs 5.5–6
LeuciteMohs 5.5–6
SugiliteMohs 6–
RhodoniteMohs 5.5–6.5
DiopsideMohs 5.5–6.5
HematiteMohs 5.5–6.5
MagnetiteMohs 5.5–6.5
OrthoclaseMohs 6 (defining mineral)
AegirineMohs 6
NephelineMohs 6
RiebeckiteMohs 6
LabradoriteMohs 6–6.5
MoonstoneMohs 6–6.5
AmazoniteMohs 6.0–6.5
SunstoneMohs 6.0–6.5
NephriteMohs 6.0 to 6.5
PrehniteMohs 6–6.5
PyriteMohs 6–6.5
MarcasiteMohs 6–6.5
PetaliteMohs 6–6.5
MicroclineMohs 6–6.5
AlbiteMohs 6–6.5
BenitoiteMohs 6–6.5
RutileMohs 6.0–6.5
AndesineMohs 6 – 6.5
OligoclaseMohs 6 to 6.5
GlaucophaneMohs 6.0–6.5
ChalcedonyMohs 6–7
ChrysopraseMohs 6.0–7.0
BloodstoneMohs 6–7
Moss AgateMohs 6–7
TanzaniteMohs 6.5
ThuliteMohs 6.5
JadeMohs 6–7
EpidoteMohs 6–7
VesuvianiteMohs 6–7
ZoisiteMohs 6 to 7
CassiteriteMohs 6–7
MookaiteMohs 6–7
Tiger's EyeMohs 6.5–7
CarnelianMohs 6.5–7.0
AgateMohs 6.5–7
OnyxMohs 6.5–7
SardonyxMohs 6.5–7
JasperMohs 6.5–7
KunziteMohs 6.5–7
JadeiteMohs 6.5–7
PeridotMohs 6.5–7
AxiniteMohs 6.0–7.5
HiddeniteMohs 6.5–7
OlivineMohs 6.5–7.0
GrossularMohs 6.5 to 7
AndraditeMohs 6.5 to 7
DemantoidMohs 6.5–7.0
HessoniteMohs 6.5 to 7
SpodumeneMohs 6.5–7
Fire AgateMohs 6.5-7
Blue Lace AgateMohs 6.5–7
PolluciteMohs 6.5 to 7
DiasporeMohs 6.5–7.0
AmethystMohs 7 (lower in impure varieties)
CitrineMohs 7
Rose QuartzMohs 7
Smoky QuartzMohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral)
Clear QuartzMohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral)
Milky QuartzMohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral)
AmetrineMohs 7
PrasioliteMohs 7 – lower in impure varieties
AventurineMohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral)
GarnetMohs 6.5–7.5
SpessartineMohs 6.5 – 7.5
PietersiteMohs 7
AndalusiteMohs 6.5–7.5
UvaroviteMohs 6.5–7.5
SillimaniteMohs 7
Rutilated QuartzMohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral)
AlmandineMohs 7.0–7.5
TsavoriteMohs 7.0–7.5
TourmalineMohs 7.0–7.5
Watermelon TourmalineMohs 7.0–7.5
SchorlMohs 7.0–7.5
IoliteMohs 7–7.5
DanburiteMohs 7 – 7.5
StauroliteMohs 7 – 7.5
PyropeMohs 7.0–7.5
RhodoliteMohs 7.0–7.5
DraviteMohs 7.0–7.5
ZirconMohs 7.5
EuclaseMohs 7.5
EmeraldMohs 7.5–8
AquamarineMohs 7.5–8.0
MorganiteMohs 7.5 to 8}}
HeliodorMohs 7.5–8.0
GosheniteMohs 7.5–8.0
DumortieriteMohs 7–8.5
Aquamarine BerylMohs 7.5–8.0
SpinelMohs 7.5–8.0
Red BerylMohs 7.5–8
PhenakiteMohs 7.5–8
TopazMohs 8 (defining mineral)
ChrysoberylMohs 8.5
AlexandriteMohs 8.5
RubyMohs 9.0
SapphireMohs 9.0
CorundumMohs 9 (defining mineral)
MoissaniteMohs ~9.5
DiamondMohs 10 (defining mineral)