{"id":32546,"date":"2023-06-08T08:46:20","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T12:46:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=32546"},"modified":"2023-06-08T08:50:43","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T12:50:43","slug":"what-does-the-mohs-scale-of-hardness-mean-to-jewelry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/what-does-the-mohs-scale-of-hardness-mean-to-jewelry\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT DOES THE MOH’S SCALE OF HARDNESS MEAN TO JEWELRY?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"WHAT<\/div>\n

The MOH’s scale of hardness<\/strong> is a scale used to measure the hardness of minerals and gemstones. It was created by Friedrich Mohs in 1812, and it is still widely used today.<\/p>\n

The scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest.<\/p>\n

\nAt the bottom of the scale is talc, which is a very soft mineral that can be easily scratched. At the top of the scale is diamond, which is the hardest mineral and can only be scratched by another diamond. Other common minerals and gemstones fall somewhere in between on the scale.<\/p>\n

The Mohs Scale of Hardness is as follows:<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. TALC – 1<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. GYPSUM – 2<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. CALCITE – 9<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. FLUORITE – 21<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. APATITE – 48<\/strong><\/li>\n
  6. FELDSPAR – 72<\/strong><\/li>\n
  7. QUARTZ – 100<\/strong><\/li>\n
  8. TOPAZ – 200<\/strong><\/li>\n
  9. CORUNDUM – 400<\/strong><\/li>\n
  10. DIAMOND – 1600<\/strong> (Numbers after Name are Absolute Hardness<\/strong>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \n\"Mohs<\/p>\n

    \nThe MOH’s scale of hardness is important to jewelry because it helps determine how durable a gemstone is and how well it will hold up over time. Gemstones that are high on the scale, such as sapphire and ruby<\/strong>, are more resistant to scratches and are therefore better suited for everyday wear. Gemstones that are low on the scale, such as opal and pearl, are more delicate and need to be handled with care to avoid scratches and damage.<\/p>\n

    \nSo to go deeper into all of the gemstones, and their hardness, let’s look at the extended Moh’s Scale<\/strong> and see where everything falls:<\/p>\n

    Extended Mohs Scale:<\/h2>\n\n\n
    \n
      \n
    • Plastic – 1<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Graphite – 1<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Talc – 1<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Pencil Lead – 1<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Sulfur – 1.5 – 2.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Gypsum – 2<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Alabaster – 2<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Rock Salts – 2<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Plaster of Paris – 2<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Mercury – 2 – 2.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Salt – 2 – 3<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Amber – 2.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Ivory – 2.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Fingernail – 2.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Pearl – 2.5<\/li>\n
    • Zinc – 2.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Gold – 2.5 – 3<\/li>\n
    • Silver – 2.5 – 3<\/li>\n
    • Aluminum – 2.5 – 3<\/li>\n
    • Jet – 2.5 – 3<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Copper Penny – 3<\/li>\n
    • Calcite – 3<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Limestone – 3<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Shells – 3<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Bronze – 3<\/li>\n
    • Coral – 3<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Barite – 3 – 3.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Malachite – 3.5 – 4<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Azurite – 3.5 – 4<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Fluorite – 4<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Platinum – 4 – 4.5<\/li>\n
    • Iron – 4 – 5<\/li>\n
    • Meteorite – 4.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Palladium – 4.75<\/li>\n
    • Apatite – 5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Tooth Enamel – 5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Lapis – 5 – 5.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Obsidian – 5 – 5.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Hematite – 5 – 6<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Knife Blade – 5.5<\/li>\n
    • Opal – 5.5 – 6<\/li>\n
    • Turquoise – 5.5 – 6<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Magnetite – 5.5 – 6.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Rhodonite – 5.5 – 6.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Titanium – 6<\/li>\n
    • Rhodium – 6<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Feldspar – 6<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Orthoclase – 6<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Rutile – 6 – 6.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Fire Opal – 6 – 6.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Moonstone – 6 – 6.5<\/li>\n
    • Marcasite – 6 – 6.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Iron Pyrite – 6.5<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Tanzanite – 6.5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n