What does the Mohs scale measure?

The Mohs scale measures the hardness of minerals, which is defined by a mineral's ability to scratch another mineral. This scale was developed by Friedrich Mohs in 1812 and consists of ten reference minerals, each assigned a specific hardness value. The scale ranges from talc, the softest mineral with a hardness of 1, to diamond, the hardest with a hardness of 10.

Understanding hardness is crucial in geology and mineralogy as it helps identify minerals and assess their properties for various applications. Minerals with higher hardness values can scratch those with lower values, thus providing a method to categorize and differentiate them based on their resistance to mechanical wear. Measuring hardness plays a significant role in fields like jewelry making, construction, and material science.