Stone Hardness Scale Marble

The mohs hardness scale only takes into consideration the strength of a single mass element or the purest form of each mineral.

Stone hardness scale marble. Different stones are made up of different minerals which impacts their overall hardness. Each natural stone has a strength rating often referred to as its mohs hardness. The higher the number the harder the mineral. It is universally used around the world as a way of distinguishing minerals.

The mohs scale of mineral hardness was developed to identify the strength and hardness of any natural mineral. The hardness of the stone informs whether it will be suitable to create curved cantilever or spiral staircases our own infographic shows where these stones fall in comparison to the other natural. Marble is a degree or two less and though it is still a very hard stone it s rating on the mohs scale is about a 5. The hardness of marble is 3 4 whereas its compressive strength is 115 00 n mm 2.

Rocks with hardness 1 3 are soft rocks from 3 6 are medium hardness rocks and 6 10 are hard rocks. Where do popular stone countertop options rate on the mohs scale. Among the harder natural stone countertop materials on the mohs scale are granite and gemstone which each rank at an 8 on the scale. It also provides insight into the durability of the stones that we work with.

Rocks are rated on the on the moh s hardness scale which rates the rocks on the scale from 1 to 10. For instance if a stone has a mohs hardness of seven then that stone is solid enough to scratch another stone with a rating of six or lower. These two stones have a mohs hardness rating of 6 or 7. The measurement of hardness scale is a useful tool in quickly determining the hardness of minerals in the field.

While the mohs hardness scale is certainly a worthwhile resource to provide a general guideline it does not provide all of the information for a natural stone slab. Soapstone contains one of the softest minerals in nature talc thus bringing it down on the scale at between a 3 5 to a 5 depending on the quality and quarry. Because granite is between a 6 and 7 on the mohs scale it would be able to scratch other types of stone that have lower ratings such as marble. As a result marble is easy to carve and that makes it useful for producing sculptures and ornamental objects.

Streak is the color of rock when it is crushed or powdered. The translucence of marble makes it especially attractive for many types of sculptures. An example of the hardness of a granite countertop can be seen in the fact that a knife blade will not scratch the surface.