Ancient Ruins' Ore

I am researching the economic value of the ore excavated from the Corpus Tomb. The merchants are more interested in the valuable ore than the magnificent ruins. The scholars, sponsored by the merchant guild, continue their research in Ulukita. The scholars are uncovering the history within the ruins, while the merchants examine the ore that could bring them money. They are both satisfied. The most simple and ignorant method they have devised to determine the economic value of the ore is to compare the hardness by striking and scratching two different ores against each other.