Mohs scale

Mohs scale  (mz)

n.

A scale for classifying minerals based on relative hardness, determined by the ability of harder minerals to scratch softer ones. The scale includes the following minerals, in order from softest to hardest: 1. talc; 2. gypsum; 3. calcite; 4. fluorite; 5. apatite; 6. orthoclase; 7. quartz; 8. topaz; 9. corundum; 10. diamond.

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[After Friedrich Mohs (1773-1839), German mineralogist.]

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Mohs scale [məʊz]

n

(Earth Sciences / Minerals) a scale for expressing the hardness of solids by comparing them with ten standards ranging from talc, with a value of 1, to diamond, with a value of 10

[named after Friedrich Mohs (1773-1839), German mineralogist]

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Mohs scale  (mz)

A scale used to measure the relative hardness of a mineral by its resistance to scratching. From softest to hardest, the ten minerals of the Mohs scale are talc (measuring 1 on the scale), gypsum, calcite, fluorite, apatite, orthoclase, quartz, topaz, corundum, and diamond (measuring 10 on the scale).

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Mohs scale - a scale of hardness of solids; talc is 0 and diamond is 10; ordering is determined by which substance can scratch another substance graduated table, ordered series, scale, scale of measurement - an ordered reference standard; "judging on a scale of 1 to 10"