Top of the Mohs Scale for Granite
Because it is the staple of the industry in terms of its popularity when it comes to natural stones, granite has a vast number of applications in the building and construction industry, with countertops, flooring, and outdoor applications all being common locations for it because of aesthetics and longevity. One reason for its durability lies in its hardness, a property which can be quantified and compared to any other mineral on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Named after Friedrich Mohs, who proposed the scale in 1812, Mohs' scale is a qualitative ordinal scale characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals by their ability to scratch one another. In this guide, we explore what is granite on the Mohs scale and what it means in terms of residential and commercial uses.
Understanding the Mohs Scale
The Mohs Hardness Scale runs from 1 (for talc, which can be scratched by a finger nail) to 10 (for diamond, the hardest substance known to humans). This scale also helps understand from the user angle the quality of material and which material are effective is special application such as wear resistance.
Mohs Scale of Hardness for Granite
Granite typically ranks a 6–7 on the Mohs scale and is harder than the majority of common natural stones. This rating suggests granite is quite tough and scratch resistant to anything with a lesser hardness rating. For example, materials ranked at 3 such as calcite and 4 such as fluorite are not scratched by a lower hardness matieral and yet materials with a high hardness, say 9 like corundum or of course diamond, do scratch them.
Things to Consider From A Practical Standpoint So, how is a tough, resilient rock like granite really used?
High Traffic Resistance
Granite is rated also rated higher on the Moth Scale which means it is well-suited to busy regions where surfaces tend to endure the brunt of wear or tear and tear. It has excellent scratch resistance which makes it ideal for kitchen countertops, flooring at commercial building and also for outdoor applications like as a paving.
Maintenance and Care
Yes, granite being so hard is good but also it means that anything harder than granite will scratch it. It is therefore advised to steer clear of corrosive materials which may damage the surface. Routine cleaning with soapy water is usually adequate for everyday maintenance, but periodic sealing is recommended to help resist stains and preserve the natural colors of the stone.
Aesthetic Quality
In addition, the natural hardness of granite also allows it to keep its polished appearance, preventing it from becoming marked, discoloured or scratched over time. Not surprisingly, this is what makes granite not only a durable choice for high-traffic areas, but also an appealing one as well.
Choosing the Right Granite
Since there are many color and texture variations in granite, these variations can affect how the overall product appears in terms of quality and style, especially with anything that you select for any project with granite to it. In addition, make your source of granite always certified dealers, so you can buy a product with high quality and the promised hardness.
To learn more about how the hardness of granite makes it useful or useless in different applications, click here to find out what is granite on the Mohs scale.
Based on its Mohs scale ranking of 6-7, granite can be used in an extensive range of design and functional applications as covered above. The combination of beauty and brawn makes it a workhorse option for any and all surfaces, with the durability to sustain daily use inside or out and the soul-soothing looks to match.