Salts of oxoacids
From apm
The X-O-X bonds present in those compounds increase the space between the spacially linking X atoms. This lead to a lower density of bonds in cross sections inclusion of bigger voids thus higher porousity. Due to the porousness of these compounds it is harder to get the surfaces flat - figuratively like the surface of a pumice stone. It's impossible to get them as smooth as passivated diamond. [todo: investigate wheter supralubricating bearings can be constructed from these types of diamondoid compounds]
Quartz
Not exactly a salt but related ...
Phosphate minerals
- Especially interesting: Hydoxy- Fluor- & Clorappatite Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) - (Mohs 5) - a biomineral
- Lazulite (wikipedia) & Scorzalite (wikipedia) magnesium iron aluminium phosphates - (Mohs 5.5-6)
- Phosphophyllite (wikipedia) - zinc iron phosphate - rather soft (Mohs 3.5)
- Pb5(PO4)3Cl pyromorphite (wikipedia) - relatively hard for a lead mineral (Mohs 3.5)
- YPO4 Xenotime (wikipedia) - rare yttrium - high symmetry (tetragonal) - (Mohs 4.5)
Sulfate minerals
Sulfate minerals are generally rather soft with few exceptions.
One of the harder ones is brochantite (wikipedia) - (Mohs 3.5-4)