Interernational Lapidary Association
The hardness of sandstone may be difficult to test. If the sand grains have not been cemented well or have been cemented by calcite, the sandstone will seem softer. The individual quartz sand grains will still have a hardness of 7, but the rock may crumble or disaggregate in your hand, making it look soft. ... Mohs'' scale has stood the test of ...