What is the MOHS hardness scale and why is it good to know?
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What is the MOHS hardness scale and why is it good to know?
Many people like to clean their crystals in running water, a very good and effective way to clean their crystals! But you should know which crystals can come into contact with water for a long time and which ones become discolored or damaged when in contact with water. Below we have written about the MOHS scale, a scale that measures the hardness of crystals.
The MOHS hardness scale is a scale used to measure the hardness of crystals and stones on a scale between 1-10. The more porous a crystal is, the lower number it gets on the MOHS scale (e.g. selenite, which is second on the MOHS scale, is a very porous and sensitive crystal) and the higher the number on the MOHS scale the crystal gets, the more durable it is (e.g. e.g. smoky quartz, which is a very hard material and is very durable, is a seven on the MOHS scale).
The crystals you find on the MOHS scale that are a 5 or lower should not be combined with water as they are sensitive and porous, they can dissolve or be damaged. You can of course rinse the crystals carefully in water, but you should not leave them in water for a long time. When certain crystals come into contact with or dissolve in water, they can even become toxic or discolour/rust.
There are also the crystals above a fifth on the MOHS scale that should not come into contact with water, we have put a small mark next to these.
MOHS HARDNESS SCALE
(1-5 are not suitable in water)
2
Lepidolite
Selenite
3
Ruby Fuchsite
Chrysocolla
Honey calcite
White Calcite
Howlite
Yellow Calcite
Pink Calcite
4
Orange Calcite
Red Calcite
Blue Calcite
Green Calcite
Angelite
Celestine
Howlite
Malachite
Rhodochrosite
Fluorite
Apophyllite
Peacock cups
Malachite
Shungite
5
Lapis lazuli
Sodalite
Obsidian
White Opal
Pink Opal
Dalmatian jasper
Blue quartz
Hematite
Scolitis
(6-10 suitable in water)
6
Moonstone
Black Moonstone
Black Obsidian
Amazonite
Blue Bandagat
Botswana Agate
Garnet
Labradorite (does not tolerate water)
Moss Street
Aventurine
Sun stone
Pyrite (does not tolerate water)
Black Rutile Quartz
Tree day
Zebra Jasper
Jade (water resistant)
Rhodonite
Golden Rutile Quartz
Agate
The rainbow pattern
7
Amethyst
Aqua Aura
Tiger's eye
Carnelian
Citrine
Rock crystal
Golden Healer
Red Jasper
Rose quartz
Smoky quartz
Tangerine quartz
Strawberry quartz
New Jade
Flower Agate
Angel Aura
Titanium quartz (water resistant)
Iolite
8
Aquamarine
Black Tourmaline
Pink Tourmaline
9
Ruby