Marble On The Hardness Scale

Hardness is determined by the ability of one mineral to scratch another.

Marble on the hardness scale.

If you check granite hardness on the mohs scale you will find it harder than marble and softer than quartzite. Marble has a mohs hardness scale rating between 3 4. In simple words soapstone is the softest material and diamond is the hardest material. As a result marble is easy to carve and that makes it useful for producing sculptures and ornamental objects.

When black granite is measured on the mohs scale it falls somewhere between 6 and 7. On average it is 6 5. Marble is limestone that has been compacted and heated over millions of years. As a result marble is less porous and slightly stronger than limestone but still less durable than granite.

For example a diamond can scratch granite while granite can scratch marble. This means that marble is less scratch resistant than granite. Granite on the mohs scale. The translucence of marble makes it especially attractive for many types of sculptures.

Because granite is between a 6 and 7 on the mohs scale it would be able to scratch other types of stone that have lower ratings such as marble. Depending on the limestone and the mineral combination within the marble most marble rates from three to five on the mohs hardness scale. Being composed of calcite marble has a hardness of three on the mohs hardness scale. 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.