Mineral Hardness Comparison Calculator
Mineral Hardness Comparison
Compare mineral hardness values on the Mohs scale and estimate scratch resistance, absolute hardness, and practical durability ratings.
Formula
Mohs Difference = |Hardness1 - Hardness2|; Absolute Hardness Ratio = AbsoluteHardness1 / AbsoluteHardness2; Scratch Test: Higher Mohs number scratches lower
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mohs hardness scale?
The Mohs scale ranks mineral hardness from 1 (talc, softest) to 10 (diamond, hardest). A mineral can scratch any mineral with a lower number. It is a relative scale, not linear.
Why is the Mohs scale not linear?
The absolute hardness difference between each Mohs level varies enormously. The jump from corundum (9) to diamond (10) is much larger than from talc (1) to corundum (9) in absolute terms.
What common items can test hardness?
A fingernail is about 2.5, a copper penny about 3.5, a steel knife blade about 5.5, and a glass plate about 5.5 on the Mohs scale.
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