Mohs Hardness Scale
Mohs Hardness Scale : A 1-10 scale for estimating the hardness of a mineral, introduced by the German geologist Friedrich Mohs (1773-1839) in 1812. To apply the scale, one attempts to scratch the mineral with standard minerals assigned hardness numbers as follows: diamond 10, corundum 9, topaz 8, quartz 7, orthoclase 6, apatite 5, fluorite 4, calcite 3, gypsum 2, and talc 1. If, for example, the mineral is scratched by quartz but not by orthoclase, then its hardness is between 6 and 7