No, obsidian is not stronger than diamond.
When comparing the strength or, more accurately, the hardness of minerals and materials, scientists often refer to the Mohs Hardness Scale. This scale ranks materials based on their resistance to scratching. A material with a higher Mohs number can scratch any material with a lower number.
Understanding Hardness: The Mohs Scale
The Mohs Hardness Scale is a qualitative scale from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). It helps geologists and material scientists compare the scratch resistance of different substances.
Here's how diamond and obsidian rank on this scale according to the provided reference:
| Material | Mohs Hardness Rating |
|---|---|
| Diamond | 10 |
| Obsidian | 5-6 |
Why Diamond is Harder
As the table shows, diamond holds the top spot on the Mohs Scale with a rating of 10. This means diamond can scratch every other material on the scale, including obsidian.
- The reference states that the hardest mineral on the scale, diamond, is given a hardness rating of 10.
- It also notes that obsidian is rated at 5-6 on Mohs Hardness Scale.
- Therefore, obsidian is rated lower than diamond.
Based on these ratings from the reference, it is clear that obsidian is not stronger than a diamond; it is softer than a diamond. The diamond is indeed one of the hardest natural substances known to scientists.
In practical terms, trying to scratch a diamond with a piece of obsidian would result in the obsidian being scratched or worn down, while the diamond would remain unaffected. While strength can sometimes refer to other properties like tensile strength or toughness (resistance to breaking), when comparing minerals like this, hardness (resistance to scratching) is the most commonly used metric, especially in the context of the Mohs scale.
For more information on material properties and hardness scales, you might explore geological resources online.
