Mohs Scale

The Mohs scale is a qualitative ordinal scale that measures the relative hardness of minerals. This is based on their resistance to scratching. Developed by Friedrich Mohs in 1812, the scale ranks ten reference minerals from talc (the softest, rated 1) to diamond (the hardest, rated 10). A mineral can scratch those below it on the scale and be scratched by those above. Widely used in geology, mineralogy, and gemology, the Mohs scale is a practical tool for mineral identification. However, it does not measure overall durability or toughness and is not linear in its increments.