The effect of load variation on the microhardness and microcracks of SrC4H4O6.3H(2)O (STT) single crystals has been studied. The crystals are grown by using a controlled chemical reaction in silica hydrogel medium. We confirm the applicability of Hays and Kendall's law. There is some anisotropy in the hardness observed on different faces. We show different types of cracking in the crystal during loading. Fracture toughness, brittleness index, and yield strength of the grown crystals have also been determined using the fracture mechanism.