The Schmidt Hammer, originally designed for testing the hardness of concrete in 1948, was first used in a geomorphological context in the 1960s. Since then the advantages and disadvantages of the device for measuring rock characteristics have become apparent, and the Schmidt Hammer has been used for an increasing range of purposes, including the study of various weathering phenomena, the relationships between rock strength and landform, and for relative dating of a range of Holocene features. Readings of rock hardness have often been found to correlate well with other measures of rock character, such as uniaxial compressive strength and Young’s Modulus of Elasticity.
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