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Alexandrite

Tsarstone collectors guide


Hardness

Hardness
The quality of resistance or property of minerals, gemstones, etc., which is determined by reference to an empirical scale of standard of minerals. Hardness is the resistance of a mineral offered to abrasion or scratching (scelerometric). The absolute hardness is determined with the aid of a sclerometer. Hardness varies according to crystallographic direction in certain minerals, such as cyanite or disthene three different hardness in three different crystallographic directions: 4.5, 6, and 7. The hardness of a gemstone can be determined using a hardness plate or hardness points. The general scale used as standard by mineralogist and gemologist called MohsТ scale.
Bibliographic details
Page title Definition of Hardness
Author David Weinberg
Website title Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide
Date published 03 July 2010 04:49 UTC
Date accessed 31 May 2026 16:31 UTC
Permanent link http://w.alexandrite.com/viewpage.html?id=GG-093-00001
AMA style
David Weinberg. "Definition of Hardness". In Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide. July 03, 2010, 04:49 UTC. Available at: http://w.alexandrite.com/viewpage.html?id=GG-093-00001. Accessed May 31, 2026.
APA style
"Definition of Hardness". (2010, July 03). In Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide. Retrieved 16:31, May 31, 2026, from http://w.alexandrite.com/viewpage.html?id=GG-093-00001.
Bluebook style
"Definition of Hardness", http://w.alexandrite.com/viewpage.html?id=GG-093-00001 (last visited May 31, 2026).
Bluebook: Harvard JOLT style
See Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide, "Definition of Hardness", http://w.alexandrite.com/viewpage.html?id=GG-093-00001 (The quality of resistance or property of minerals, gemstones, etc., which is determined by reference to an empirical scale of standard of minerals. Hardness is the resistance of a mineral offered to abrasion or scratching (scelerometric). The absolute hardness is determined with the aid of a sclerometer. Hardness varies according to crystallographic direction in certain minerals, such as cyanite or disthene three different hardness in three different crystallographic directions: 4.5, 6, and 7. The hardness of a gemstone can be determined using a hardness plate or hardness points. The general scale used as standard by mineralogist and gemologist called MohsТ scale.) (as of May. 31, 2026, 16:31 GMT).
CBE/CSE style
David Weinberg. "Definition of Hardness". In Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide. 2010 Jul 03, 04:49 UTC.[Internet], Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide; 2010 Jul 03, 04:49 UTC [cited 2026 May 31]. Available from: http://w.alexandrite.com/viewpage.html?id=GG-093-00001.
Chicago style
David Weinberg, "Definition of Hardness", http://w.alexandrite.com/viewpage.html?id=GG-093-00001, (accessed May 31, 2026).
MLA style
"Definition of Hardness". Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide. 03 Jul 2010, 04:49 UTC. 31 May 2026 http://w.alexandrite.com/viewpage.html?id=GG-093-00001
MHRA style
David Weinberg, "Definition of Hardness", Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide, 03 July 2010, 04:49 UTC, http://w.alexandrite.com/viewpage.html?id=GG-093-00001 [accessed 31 May 2026].
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