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: a scale of hardness for minerals that ranges from a value of 1 for talc to 10 for diamond
Word History
Etymology
Friedrich Mohs †1839 German mineralogist
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Mohs' scale
Cite this Entry
“Mohs' scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mohs%27%20scale. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
Medical Definition
1
: a scale of hardness for minerals in which 1 represents the hardness of talc; 2, gypsum; 3, calcite; 4, fluorite; 5, apatite; 6, orthoclase; 7, quartz; 8, topaz; 9, corundum; and 10, diamond
2
: a revised and expanded version of the original Mohs' scale which provides finer distinctions between the harder materials and in which 1 represents the hardness of talc; 2, gypsum; 3, calcite; 4, fluorite; 5, apatite; 6, orthoclase; 7, vitreous pure silica; 8, quartz; 9, topaz; 10, garnet; 11, fused zirconium oxide; 12, fused alumina; 13, silicon carbide; 14, boron carbide; and 15, diamond
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