This system was developed by German gem expert, Friedrich Mohs in 1812 and is still in use today. The scale involves a numerical value of 1 through 10, with 1 being the most easily scratched, and 10 being the most scratch-resistant.
MOHS SCALE OF GEMSTONE HARDNESS

Gem/Mineral Hardness Birthstone *Amber 2.5 *Ivory 2.5 *Jet 2.5 *Mabe Shell 2.5 Serpentine 2.5-5.0 *Tortoise Shell 2.5 Calcite 3.0 *Pearl 3.0 June Azurite 3.5 *Coral 3.5 Fluorite 4.0 Malachite 4.0 Rhodocrosite 4.0 Apatite 5.0 Dioptase 5.0 Moldavite 5.0 Obsidian 5.0 Titanite 5.0 Diopside 5.5 Lapis 5.5 December Milarite 5.5 Sodalite 5.5 Black Opal 6.0 October Labradorite 6.0 Moonstone 6.0 June Opal 6.0 October Orthoclase 6.0 Rhodonite 6.0 Scapolite 6.0 Spectrolite 6.0 Sunstone 6.0 Turquoise 6.0 December Andradite 6.5 Demantoid 6.5 January Fire opal 6.5 October Hematite 6.5 Nephrite Jade 6.5 Peridot 6.5 August Tanzanite 6.5 December Kyanite 7.0-5.0 Agate 7.0 Amethyst 7.0 February Ametrine 7.0 Aventurine 7.0 Bloodstone 7.0 March Blue Chalcedony 7.0 Carnelian 7.0 Cat's Eye Quartz 7.0 Chrysoprase 7.0

Gem/Mineral Hardness Birthstone Citrine 7.0 November Goldenite 7.0 Grossular Garnet 7.0 January Hiddenite 7.0 Iolite 7.0 Jadeite Jade 7.0 Jasper 7.0 Kunzite 7.0 Mandarin Garnet 7.0 January Onyx 7.0 Petrified Wood 7.0 Quartz Crystal 7.0 April Rhodolite 7.0 January Rose Quartz 7.0 Sard 7.0 Sardonyx 7.0 August Smokey Quartz 7.0 Spessartine 7.0 Tiger's Eye Quartz 7.0 Tsavorite 7.0 January Hessonite 7.25 January Pyrope 7.25 January Almandine Garnet 7.5 January Andalusite 7.5 Aquamarine 7.5 March Danburite 7.5 Emerald 7.5 May Goshenite 7.5 Heliodor 7.5 Hyacinth 7.5 Indicolite 7.5 Morganite 7.5 Red Beryl 7.5 Rubellite 7.5 Sillimanite 7.5 Tourmaline 7.5 October Uvarovite Garnet 7.5 January Zircon 7.5 December Blue Topaz 8.0 December Spinel 8.0 Topaz 8.0 November Alexandrite 8.5 June Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl 8.5 Blue Sapphire 9.0 September Padparadscha 9.0 September Ruby 9.0 July Sapphire 9.0 September Diamond 10.0 April

Any gemstone listed above can be scratched by any gemstone with the same hardness,or any harder gemstone farther down the list.

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