1. Talc: So soft it can be scratched by your fingernail (Hardness 1)
2. Gypsum: Can be scratched by a fingernail (Hardness 2)
3. Calcite: Scratched by a copper coin (Hardness 3)
4. Fluorite: Can be scratched by a steel knife (Hardness 4)
5. Apatite: Can be scratched by a steel knife (Hardness 5)
6. Orthoclase Feldspar: Can be scratched by a steel file (Hardness 6)
7. Quartz: Scratches glass (Hardness 7)
8. Topaz: Scratches quartz (Hardness 8)
9. Corundum: Scratches topaz (Hardness 9)
10. Diamond: The hardest natural mineral, only scratched by another diamond (Hardness 10)
Important Notes:
* Mohs Hardness Scale: This is a relative scale, meaning the difference in hardness between two adjacent numbers isn't always equal.
* Practical Uses: This scale is useful for identifying minerals and understanding their potential uses. For example, soft minerals like talc are used as lubricants, while hard minerals like diamond are used for cutting and grinding.
* Exceptions: There are some exceptions to this scale. For example, some gemstones, like ruby and sapphire, are made of corundum, but they can have different hardnesses depending on the specific crystal structure.
