More and more people are attracted by the natural beauty of moss agate, as if they are in a foggy forest with vibrant moss under their feet. Whenever someone is ready to buy moss agate, they can't help but ask: Is it durable? Will it be easily scratched or broken?

Well, I will help you answer these questions from multiple angles, so that you can buy it with more confidence!

Moss agate, it sounds like a gem of the forest, right? But don't be fooled by the name! It is not actually agate, but a variant of chalcedony. Its main component is silicon dioxide, mixed with iron-manganese oxides, chlorite and some other minerals.

The combined effect of these elements forms the moss-like inclusions you see in the stone. But don't get me wrong, it's not real moss, but formed by minerals such as chlorite and iron oxide.

Moss agate is usually transparent to translucent, and green is the most common color, ranging from light green to dark green. You can also find brown, black, red, yellow, blue, and even gray. Each piece of moss agate is unique, and you'll never find two that are exactly the same!

Before we discuss the hardness of moss agate, let's take a brief look at the Mohs hardness scale. This scale was invented by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1822 to help people compare the relative hardness of minerals and gemstones. The hardness ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest.

Moss agate has a hardness of 6.5 to 7, which is medium hardness. This means it's suitable for daily wear and won't be scratched easily. But it's not completely invulnerable. To extend its life, don't keep it in contact with harder things for a long time to avoid scratching it.

To better understand the hardness of moss agate, we can make a small comparison to see how it differs from other common substances in hardness. Let's take a look:

• Talc: With a hardness of only 1, it is the softest mineral on the Mohs hardness scale. The hardness of our fingernails is about 2.5, which can easily scratch it.

• Gypsum: With a hardness of 2, it often appears in architecture and artistic sculptures.

• Calcite: With a hardness of 3, it is a common mineral that is widely found in limestone and marble.

• Fluorite: With a hardness of 4, it usually presents transparent or colored crystals and is widely used in optical equipment, jewelry and decorations.

• Apatite: With a hardness of 5, it is usually used to make fertilizers and is also used as a reference for other minerals.

• Orthoclase: With a hardness of 6, it is medium hardness in the Mohs hardness scale. It is a common mineral that usually appears in igneous rocks such as granite.

• Quartz: It is a typical mineral with a hardness of 7. It is widely found in the earth's crust and is the main component of many rocks.

• Topaz: A common gemstone with a hardness of 8 and a variety of colors, the most common of which is yellow.

• Corundum: A mineral with a hardness of 9, including rubies and sapphires. It is widely used in jewelry and industry because it is very hard.

• Diamond: It is the hardest substance in nature, with a hardness of 10. It is composed of carbon elements, and its molecular structure is very tight, with extremely high hardness and wear resistance. Diamond is widely used in jewelry and industrial cutting and grinding tools.

Well, here is a little trick to help you distinguish the authenticity: take a piece of glass and gently scratch the surface of the stone. The hardness of glass is about 5.5, which is lower than that of moss agate. Therefore, if it is real moss agate, there will be no trace left on the surface after the glass is scratched.

On the contrary, if you see scratches, you need to be careful, it may be a fake moss agate. You can repeat the test to make sure that no details are missed. If there are no scratches after each scratch, then the crystal is likely to be real.

In general, moss agate is a durable gem that is not easy to scratch and break. As long as you take a little care, it will definitely accompany you through a long time.

Now, if you are searching for a one-of-a-kind piece of moss agate jewelry, take a look at our website. Maybe that perfect gem is just waiting for you to discover!

I've come across some great articles on this topic, and I thought you'd find them interesting too. Here are the links – feel free to check them out if you're interested!

• IS MOSS AGATE TOO SOFT FOR AN ENGAGEMENT RING?

• Moss Agate Engagement Ring Guide

• Moss Agate Engagement Rings: Nature's Emerald Isle on Your Finger (But Will It Last?)