mineral hardness

Mineral hardness is a measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching or abrasion. It is determined by a standardized scale called the Mohs scale, which ranks minerals from softest (talc, rated 1) to hardest (diamond, rated 10). Harder minerals can scratch softer ones, but not vice versa. Hardness helps identify minerals and understand their durability in different environments. It’s a useful property in geology and mineralogy, providing insight into a mineral’s composition and strength without damaging it.