Some minerals are smooth, and others are rough. When they are used to scratch and tear something else, they are called abrasives. The most commonly used abrasive is sandpaper. It is good at smoothing down the rough edges of wood. Other abrasives include steel wool, emery boards, and whetstones. They are used to clean, shape, sharpen and polish all kinds of objects.
This is an encyclopedic article about the different kinds of abrasive materials and their uses.