“…, and other rock mechanical parameters influencing how the fracture nucleates [5], fracture size and geometry, but fracture sizes and geometry adopted in hydraulic fracture design and modelling, Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) modeling, and Finite Element Modeling (FEM); are most often overestimated. Although scratch tests are applicable nowadays to several fields of science and engineering, ranging from strength characterization of rocks and cements/ceramics [6,7,8,9,10,11,12], to damage of polymers [13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21] and metals [22,23,24,25], and quality control of thin films and coatings [16,19]; the underlying rock failure mechanisms, characterization, and applications has not been fully explored. Although several researchers have attempted to evaluate and quantify UCS, fracture toughness, and other rock mechanical properties in conventional and unconventional reservoir rocks using indentation and scratch testing methods, but there remain differing opinions on the fundamental approach and principles to be adopted in estimating those parameters.…”