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Mohs Scale was developed in 1812 by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs
(1773-1839)


Mohs Scale of hardness is a RELATIVE scale, not proportional. I mean by this that a mineral with the hardness of 8 will NOT be twice as hard as a 4. (For example, diamond is 4X harder than sapphire!).It is really a scale of relative "scratchability".

#1 is softest..................#10 is hardest

#1 Talc
#2 Gypsum
#3 Calcite
#4 Fluorite
#5 Apatite
#6 Feldspar
#7 Quartz
#8 Topaz
#9 Corundum
#10 Diamond

Gemstones and Mohs Scale
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diamondDiamond: .............10
yellowSyth. Moissanite:.......9.5
corundumCorundum: ................9
diamondCubic Zirconia:.. .8.5
spinelSpinel: ........................8
topazTopaz: .......................8
emeraldEmerald: .......7.5 - 8
spinelAlmandite: ...............7.5
rhodoliteRhodolite: ..........7 - 7.5
rhodolitePyrope: ........7 - 7.5
spessartiteSpessartite: ...........7 - 7.5
tourmalineTourmaline: ........7 - 7.5
ioliteIolite: ...........7 - 7.5
quartzQuartz Group: .............7
peeridotPeridot: ..............6.5 - 7
jadeiteJadeite:.. ...6.5 - 7
demantoidAndradite: .............6.5 - 7
scapoliteScapolite: ..............6.5
zircZircon (low): .......6.5
tanzaniteTanzanite: ............6.5 - 7
moonstoneFeldspars: ............6 - 7
nephriteNephrite:.......6 - 6.5
opalOpal: ........................5.5
lapisLazulite: ...............5 - 6
lapisLapiz Lazuli:.....5- 6
turquoiseTurquoise: ..............5 - 6
spheneSphene: .............5 - 5.5
apatiteApatite: ...............5
rhodochrositeRhodochrosite: ............4
coralCoral .....................3 - 4