The only mineral that can scratch a diamond is another diamond.
Diamonds are renowned for their exceptional hardness, making them the hardest known natural mineral on Earth. This unique property means that for a substance to scratch a diamond, it must possess equal or greater hardness.
Understanding Diamond Hardness
The hardness of minerals is typically measured using the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which ranks minerals from 1 (softest, like talc) to 10 (hardest, like diamond). A mineral can only be scratched by a mineral with an equal or higher Mohs rating.
Here's how diamond compares to some other common minerals on the Mohs scale:
| Mineral | Mohs Hardness |
|---|---|
| Talc | 1 |
| Gypsum | 2 |
| Calcite | 3 |
| Fluorite | 4 |
| Apatite | 5 |
| Orthoclase | 6 |
| Quartz | 7 |
| Topaz | 8 |
| Corundum | 9 |
| Diamond | 10 |
Because diamond holds the highest position on this scale, no other mineral or material with a lower hardness can inflict a scratch upon it. Therefore, only another diamond has the necessary hardness to scratch its surface.
Practical Implications of Diamond's Hardness
This extreme hardness has several practical applications and implications:
- Industrial Use: Diamonds are widely used in various industries for cutting, grinding, drilling, and polishing other hard materials, including other diamonds. Diamond-tipped tools are essential for precision work.
- Gemstone Care: While incredibly hard, diamonds can still be damaged.
- Scratching: Keep diamond jewelry separated from other diamond pieces to prevent them from scratching each other. Store them in individual soft pouches or compartments in a jewelry box.
- Chipping: Despite their hardness, diamonds can chip or cleave if struck with sufficient force at certain angles. This is due to their inherent crystalline structure.
- Polishing: The process of cutting and polishing raw diamonds into brilliant gemstones requires the use of diamond dust or diamond-impregnated tools. Only by utilizing the diamond's own material can it be shaped and refined.
In summary, the unparalleled hardness of a diamond ensures its resistance to scratches from nearly all other substances, with the singular exception being another diamond.
