Mohs Hardness Scale
The Mohs hardness scale is a valuable tool that is used to compare minerals by their hardness. First developed by Friedrich Mohs in 1822, the Mohs scale was originally a relative scale that only compared the hardness of two minerals. It has since been revised to provide a more precise numerical value for hardness and is now a standard that is used around the world.
The Mohs hardness scale ranks a mineral’s hardness on a scale of one to ten, with one being the softest and ten being the hardest. When measuring a mineral’s hardness, it is compared against another mineral in order to determine its ranking. This ranking system is governed by the Mohs law, which states that if two minerals can scratch each other, then the one that leaves a deeper scratch is the harder of the two.
The hardnesses of most minerals can be comfortably described using the Mohs scale, with a few exceptions that may not have an exact ranking. For example, diamond has a hardness of 10, which classifies it as the hardest naturally occurring substance, but there are substances such as fine grit aluminum oxide that have the potential to reach a hardness of 11 or higher.
The Mohs scale has become the gold standard for testing the hardness of objects, and is widely used in several industries. In the gemstone and jewelry industry, the Mohs scale is used to identify and grade stones, while in engineering and construction it is used to determine the hardness of construction materials such as concrete and pavement. Scientists and geology students also rely on the Mohs scale to identify unknown mineral and rock samples.
Despite its importance and the many uses of the Mohs hardness scale, there are a few limitations that come with its use. For example, although the comparison between two minerals can accurately be determined via the Mohs scale, it is not precise enough to measure the individual hardness of a specific mineral. As such, it is important to supplement the use of the Mohs scale with other precise measurement methods such as scratch testing or diamond probes.
In conclusion, the Mohs hardness scale is a valuable tool for comparing the hardnesses of different minerals and materials. Despite its limitations, the Mohs scale is still widely used and accepted around the world, and its importance extends to several industries such as gemology, engineering and science.