a scale of hardness used in mineralogy. Its degrees, in increasing hardness, are: talc 1; gypsum 2; calcite 3; fluorite 4; apatite 5; feldspar 6; quartz 7; topaz 8; sapphire 9; diamond 10.
Abbreviation: MSH.
Origin
1875-80; named after F. Mohs (1773-1839), German mineralogist
British Dictionary definitions for Mohs scale
Mohs scale
/məʊz/
noun
1.
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
Word Origin
C19: named after Friedrich Mohs (1773–1839), German mineralogist
Mohs scale in Science
Mohs scale
(mōz) 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).