
Generally, quartz crystals are safe to be washed with water. Crystals that are safe to be washed with water

While this is true, there are a few exceptions. It is often said that minerals cannot be cleansed in salt.

Quick bursts of water is fine with the crystals but submerging them for a long time will destroy them. The crystals will also release toxic chemicals into the water. You will notice they will slowly begin to loose its luster and just go into waste.Īny crystal that ends with -ite cannot be washed with salt water or water.


If you submerge the crystals mentioned above in water or salt water, they will eventually dissolve, since they contain iron and porous. Table of Moh’s Hardness of Common Minerals is referenced by Mohs Hardness of Common Minerals Alphabetical Anhydrite 3 to 3.5 Apatite 5 Arsenopyrite 5.5 to 6 Augite 5.5 to 6 Azurite 3.5 to 4 Barite 2.5 to 3.5 Bauxite 1 to 3 Beryl 7.5 to 8 Biotite 2.5 to 3 Bornite 3 to 3.25 Calcite 3 Cassiterite 6 to 7 Chalcocite 2.5 to 3 Chalcopyrite 3.5 to 4 Chlorite 2 to 2.5 Chromite 5.5 to 6 Chrysoberyl 8.5 Cinnabar 2 to 2.5 Copper 2.5 to 3 Cordierite 7 to 7.5 Corundum 9 Cuprite 3.5 to 4 Diamond 10 Diopside 5.5 to 6.5 Dolomite 3.5 to 4 Enstatite 5 to 6 Epidote 6 to 7 Euclase 7.5 Fluorite 4 Galena 2.5+ Garnet 6.5 to 7.5 Glauconite 2 Gold 2.5 to 3 Graphite 1 to 2 Gypsum 1.5 to 2 Halite 2 to 2.5 Hematite 5 to 6.5 Hornblende 5 to 6 Ilmenite 5 to 6 Jadeite 6.5 to 7 Kyanite 4.5 to 7 Limonite 1 to 5 Magnesite 3.5 to 5 Magnetite 5 to 6.5 Malachite 3.5 to 4 Marcasite 6 to 7.5 Molybdenite 1 to 2 Monazite 5 to 5.5 Muscovite 2 to 3 Nepheline 5.5 to 6 Nephrite 6 to 6.5 Olivine 6.5 to 7 Orthoclase 6 to 6.5 Plagioclase 6 to 6.5 Prehnite 6 to 6.5 Pyrite 6 to 6.5 Pyrophyllite 1 to 2 Pyrrhotite 3.5 to 4 Quartz 7 Rhodochrosite 3.5 to 4 Rhodonite 5.5 to 6.5 Rutile 6 to 6.5 Serpentine 3 to 5 Siderite 3.5 to 4.5 Sillimanite 6.5 to 7.5 Silver 2.5 to 3 Sodalite 5.5 to 6 Sphalerite 3.5 to 4 Spinel 8 Spodumene 6.5 to 7 Staurolite 7 to 7.5 Sulfur 1.5 to 2.5 Sylvite 2 Talc 1 Titanite 5 to 5.5 Topaz 8 Tourmaline 7 to 7.5 Turquoise 5 to 6 Uraninite 5 to 6 Vanadinite 3 to 4 Witherite 3 to 3.5 Wollastonite 4.5 to 5.5 Zircon 7.5 Zoisite 6 to 7 Decreasing Hardness Diamond 10 Corundum 9 Chrysoberyl 8.5 Topaz 8 Spinel 8 Beryl 7.5 to 8 Euclase 7.5 Zircon 7.5 Cordierite 7 to 7.5 Staurolite 7 to 7.5 Tourmaline 7 to 7.5 Quartz 7 Garnet 6.5 to 7.5 Jadeite 6.5 to 7 Sillimanite 6.5 to 7.5 Olivine 6.5 to 7 Spodumene 6.5 to 7 Marcasite 6 to 7.5 Cassiterite 6 to 7 Epidote 6 to 7 Zoisite 6 to 7 Nephrite 6 to 6.5 Orthoclase 6 to 6.5 Plagioclase 6 to 6.5 Prehnite 6 to 6.5 Pyrite 6 to 6.5 Rutile 6 to 6.5 Diopside 5.5 to 6.5 Rhodonite 5.5 to 6.5 Arsenopyrite 5.5 to 6 Augite 5.5 to 6 Chromite 5.5 to 6 Hematite 5.5 to 6.5 Nepheline 5.5 to 6 Sodalite 5.5 to 6 Magnetite 5 to 6.5 Enstatite 5 to 6 Hornblende 5 to 6 Ilmenite 5 to 6 Turquoise 5 to 6 Uraninite 5 to 6 Monazite 5 to 5.5 Titanite 5 to 5.5 Apatite 5 Wollastonite 4.5 to 5.5 Kyanite 4.5 to 7 Fluorite 4 Magnesite 3.5 to 5 Siderite 3.5 to 4.5 Azurite 3.5 to 4 Chalcopyrite 3.5 to 4 Cuprite 3.5 to 4 Dolomite 3.5 to 4 Malachite 3.5 to 4 Pyrrhotite 3.5 to 4 Rhodochrosite 3.5 to 4 Sphalerite 3.5 to 4 Serpentine 3 to 5 Vanadinite 3 to 4 Anhydrite 3 to 3.5 Witherite 3 to 3.5 Bornite 3 to 3.25 Calcite 3 Barite 2.5 to 3.5 Biotite 2.5 to 3 Chalcocite 2.5 to 3 Copper 2.5 to 3 Gold 2.5 to 3 Silver 2.5 to 3 Galena 2.5+ Muscovite 2 to 3 Chlorite 2 to 2.5 Cinnabar 2 to 2.5 Halite 2 to 2.5 Glauconite 2 Sylvite 2 Sulfur 1.5 to 2.5 Gypsum 1.5 to 2 Limonite 1 to 5 Bauxite 1 to 3 Graphite 1 to 2 Molybdenite 1 to 2 Pyrophyllite 1 to 2 Talc 1 Crystal Moh’s Hardness Scale Crystals Mineral 1 Talc 2 Selenite, Gypsum 2-2.5 Amber 2-4 Chrysocolla 2.5-4 Lepidolite 2.4-4.5 Pearl 3 Coral, Calcite 3-3.5 Celestite 3.5-4 Malachite, Aragonite, Azurite 4 Fluorite, Rhodochrosite 5 Apatite, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli 5.5-6 Sodalite 5.5-6.5 Hematite, Rhodonite, Opal 6 Orthoclase, Tanzanite 6-6.5 Amazonite, Pyrite, Labradorite, Prehnite, Moonstone 6.5-7 Jasper, Jadeite, Chalcedony, Peridot 6.6-7 Garnet 7 Quartz, Tourmaline, Citrine, Amethyst, Zircon, Carnelian, Aventurine, Peridot, Smoky Quartz, Rose Quartz, Agate, Obsidian, Tiger’s Eye 8 Topaz, Spinel, Emerald, Aquamarine 9 Corundum, Sapphire, Ruby 10 Diamond Crystals with iron core easily dissolve with water such as : Crystals that are 7 or more on the Moh’s Hardness Scale are safe to be washed with water or saltwater.
