Soapstone is an easy stone to work with, usually used by beginning students of stone carving. Mohs hardness of about 2
Alabaster, African wonderstone, alberene, and softer kinds of serpentine, are more durable than soapstone. Alabaster, in particular, has long been cherished for its translucence. Mohs hardness of about 3
Limestone and sandstone are the only sedimentary stones commonly carved. Limestone comes in a popular oolitic variety, about twice as hard as alabaster, that is excellent for carving. Mohs hardness of about 4
Marble, travertine, and onyx are at about 6 on the Mohs scale. Marble has been the preferred stone for sculptors in the European tradition ever since the time of classical Greece. It is available in a wide variety of colors, from white through pink and red to grey and black.
The hardest stone frequently carved is granite, at about 8 on the Mohs scale. It is the most durable of sculptural stones and, correspondingly, an extremely difficult stone to work. Mohs hardness of about 8
Mohs Hardness Scale
| Diamond | 10 |
| Corundum | 9 |
| Topaz, Granite | 8 |
| Quartz | 7 |
| Orthoclase, Marble, Travertine, Onyx | 6 |
| Apatite | 5 |
| Fluorite, Limestone, Sandstone | 4 |
| Calcite, Alabaster, African Wonderstone | 3 |
| Gypsum, Soapstone | 2 |
| Talc | 1 |