Marble On The Hardness Scale

This means that marble is less scratch resistant than granite.

Marble on the hardness scale.

Depending on the limestone and the mineral combination within the marble most marble rates from three to five on the mohs hardness scale. Marble has a mohs hardness scale rating between 3 4. It can also be used for metal. Granite on the mohs scale.

Hardness is determined by the ability of one mineral to scratch another. The translucence of marble makes it especially attractive for many types of sculptures. Created in 1812 by german geologist and mineralogist friedrich mohs it is one of several definitions of hardness in materials science some of which are more quantitative. For example a diamond can scratch granite while granite can scratch marble.

Being composed of calcite marble has a hardness of three on the mohs hardness scale. The mohs scale of mineral hardness m oʊ z is a qualitative ordinal scale characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of harder material to scratch softer material. On average it is 6 5. An example of the hardness of a granite countertop can be seen in the fact that a knife blade will not scratch the surface.

In simple words soapstone is the softest material and diamond is the hardest material. When black granite is measured on the mohs scale it falls somewhere between 6 and 7. As a result marble is less porous and slightly stronger than limestone but still less durable than granite. As a result marble is easy to carve and that makes it useful for producing sculptures and ornamental objects.