Hardness and Toughness standards of gemstones
Gemstones require different cleaning methods based on their hardness and toughness. The measure of a mineral’s hardness and it’s resistance to scratching was invented by a mineralogist named Friedrich Moh. He invented a scale that ranges from talc (number 1) being the softest, to diamonds (number 10) being the hardest substance. The toughness of a gemstone is the resistance to breakage. The combination of the toughness and hardness of a gemstone largely defines its durability.
To clean Turquoise:
Turquoise’s toughness is poor to good and on Moh’s hardness scale it receives a 5-6. Even though it is harder than pearls and howlite you should still never steam or boil them. You can use a soapy brush or an untreated cloth to safely clean your Turquoise.
