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The hardness of a mineral is determined using Moh's scale. The scale consists of 10 common minerals arranged from 1, softest (talc) to 10, hardest (diamond). Based on the chart to the left, if an unknown mineral can be scratched by fluorite but not by calcite, then it's hardness must be between 3 and 4 on Moh's scale. |
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| Kits are available containing the Moh's scale minerals (diamond is not usually included). The kits are used to find the hardness of unknown samples. |
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An alternative to using the Moh's scale test kit is the "scratch test". For the regents practical you will be given an unknown mineral and a glass plate. If your mineral can scratch the glass, the mineral's hardness is greater than 5.5. If not, the mineral is softer than the glass (less than 5.5). |
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