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Moh's Hardness Scale with examples:

Talc, Graphite – Can be scratched with a fingernail or any stone with a hardness of 2 or more.

Gypsum – Can be scratched with a fingernail or any stone with a hardness of 3 or more.

Calcite – Can be scratched with a knife or any stone with a hardness of 4 or more.

Malachite, Platinum – Can be scratched with a knife or any stone with a hardness of 5 or more. And will scratch any stone rated 3 or lower.

Apetite, Dioptase – Can be scratched with a knife or any stone with a hardness of 6 or more. And will scratch any stone rated 4 or lower.

Amozonite, hematite – Can be scratched with a knife or any stone with a hardness of 7 or more. And will scratch any stone rated 5 or lower.

Quartz, Tourmaline – Can be scratched by any stone with a hardness of 8 or more. Will scratch glass and any stone rated 6 or lower.

Topaz, Spinel – Can be scratched by any stone with a hardness of 9 or 10. Will scratch glass and any stone rated 7 or lower.

Corundum (Sapphire or Ruby) – Can be scratched by Diamond. Will scratch glass and any stone rated 8 or lower.

Diamond – Will scratch glass and all other stones.

 

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