▴ Reference

Crystal Hardness Reference — What's Water-Safe, What's Sun-Safe

Mohs hardness scale of common healing crystals, plus which can be cleansed in water and which can't.

The Mohs scale measures scratch resistance from 1 (talc, softest) to 10 (diamond, hardest). It tells you what survives water, salt, and rough handling. Below, every crystal in the Agni Crystals catalogue with its hardness and care notes.

Hard (6.5–7+) — water-safe

Quartz family at 7 — Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Citrine, Smoky Quartz, Clear Quartz, Tiger's Eye, Carnelian, Red Jasper, Picture Jasper, Bloodstone, Botswana Agate, Moss Agate, Dalmatian Jasper, Unicorn Jasper, Rainbow Obsidian (5.5).
Garnet (6.5–7.5). Tiger's Eye (7). All can be briefly rinsed in cold water without damage.

Medium (5–6) — gentle care

Hematite (5.5–6.5), Sodalite (5.5–6), Lapis Lazuli (5–6 — but contains calcite which dissolves), Moonstone (6), Rainbow Moonstone (6), Labradorite (6), Sunstone (6.5), Amazonite (6), Howlite (3.5 — soft, despite white look). Quick rinses only; avoid prolonged water.

Soft (2–4) — never water, smoke only

Selenite (2) literally dissolves in water. Malachite (3.5) creates toxic dust if abraded — never sand, never wet. Lepidolite (2.5–3.5) flakes apart in water. Stichtite (2.5) too soft. Cleanse these with smoke (sage, palo santo, camphor) only.

Iron-rich — sun OK, water risky

Pyrite (6–6.5), Hematite (5.5–6.5), Black Tourmaline (7) — these can take direct morning sun. Pyrite and hematite rust if wet — use smoke only.

Coloured — sun fades them

Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Citrine, Fluorite, Multi-Fluorite, Stichtite, Rainbow Obsidian — direct sun fades the colour, sometimes within hours. Use moonlight for cleansing instead.

Quick rule: If you don't know your crystal's hardness, use smoke. Smoke is universally safe. Water is great for quartz family but disastrous for soft and iron-rich crystals. Sun is risky for coloured crystals always.

Enquire about these crystals

Each crystal is chosen and cleansed by hand before shipping.