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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
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
SeleniteMohs 2
CinnabarMohs 2.0–2.5
FuchsiteMohs 2.5
UlexiteMohs 2.5
GalenaMohs 2.5–2.75
LepidoliteMohs 2.5–3
CrocoiteMohs 2.5–3
ChrysocollaMohs 2.5–3.5 (7 for chrysocolla chalcedony, high-silica content)
WulfeniteMohs 3
CalciteMohs 3 (defining mineral)
CelestineMohs 3.0–3.5
JetMohs 2.5–4.0
BariteMohs 3–3.5
AngeliteMohs 3.5
VanadiniteMohs 3–4
HowliteMohs 3.5
PearlMohs 2.5–4.5
CavansiteMohs 3 - 4
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
FluoriteMohs 4 (defining mineral)
MagnesiteMohs 3.5–4.5
StilbiteMohs to 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
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
ApatiteMohs 5 (defining mineral)
ScoleciteMohs 5 to
OkeniteMohs –5
DatoliteMohs 5 to 5.5
TurquoiseMohs 5–6
CharoiteMohs 5 - 6
ObsidianMohs 5–6
Snowflake ObsidianMohs 5–6
MoldaviteMohs 5.5
EudialyteMohs 5–6
SodaliteMohs 5.5–6
OpalMohs 5.5–6
NuummiteMohs 5.5 - 6.0
HyperstheneMohs 5.5–6
ScapoliteMohs 5.5–6
Fire OpalMohs 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
LabradoriteMohs 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
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
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
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
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
ZirconMohs 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
TopazMohs 8 (defining mineral)
ChrysoberylMohs 8.5
AlexandriteMohs 8.5
RubyMohs 9.0
SapphireMohs 9.0
MoissaniteMohs ~9.5
DiamondMohs 10 (defining mineral)