- Hardness is the resistance of stone other materials penetration, it is determined by the crystalline lattice modes. Created a number of hardness scales, but the best known is the "Mohs hardness scale. It goes from 1 to 10, Moss set out to row 10 labiausiaim common minerals by their ability to scratch one another. End of the scale is the softest mineral - talc. Its estimated hardness 1, and it can scratch all minerals in the above scale. The last is the diamond. Its estimated hardness 10, and it can scratch all minerals.
Mohs scale of mineral hardness
A talc
Two plaster
Three calcite
4 fluorspar
5 apatite
6 feldspar
7 Quartz
8 Topaz
9 corundum
10 diamond
