Marble Hardness On The Mohs Scale

For example a diamond can scratch granite while granite can scratch marble.

Marble hardness on the mohs scale. Hardness is determined by the ability of one mineral to scratch another. The result is this ordinal scale of minerals by hardness with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest. The hardness of any mineral is rated on a 1 to 10 scale called the mohs scale. The hardest mineral on the mohs scale is diamond which ranks at a 10.

To give numerical values to this physical property minerals are ranked along. The mohs hardness of a mineral is determined by observing whether its surface is scratched by a substance of known or defined hardness. When black granite is measured on the mohs scale it falls somewhere between 6 and 7. How is hardness rated.

As a result marble is less porous and slightly stronger than limestone but still less durable than granite. Depending on the limestone and the mineral combination within the marble most marble rates from three to five on the mohs hardness scale. This scale was invented by german mineralogist friedrich mohs in 1812 and ranks minerals based on their ability to scratch or sustain scratches. Find out more about the hardness of granite by reading on.

Being composed of calcite marble has a hardness of three on the mohs hardness scale. In simple words soapstone is the softest material and diamond is the hardest material. To give you an idea of how durable the stones in our staircases and fireplaces are we have added them to our revised version of the hardness scale. Marble has a mohs hardness scale rating between 3 4.

Granite is a blend of different minerals fused. Granite on the mohs scale. Hardness is based on the mohs scale which ranks natural minerals on a scale of 1 to 10 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest. On average it is 6 5.

On the other hand the softest is talc which ranks at a 1. The mohs scale of mineral hardness 1. Created in 1812 by german geologist and mineralogist friedrich mohs it is one of several definitions of hardness in materials science some of which are more quantitative. The mohs scale of mineral hardness m oʊ z is a qualitative ordinal scale characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of harder material to scratch softer material.

This means that marble is less scratch resistant than granite. If you check granite hardness on the mohs scale you will find it harder than marble and softer than quartzite. What are the hardest and softest minerals on the mohs scale. As a result marble is easy to carve and that makes it useful for producing sculptures and ornamental objects.