Sequence 7

Sequence 7

The unclued entries provide the ten levels of hardness in Moh’s scale.

 

1. Talc, 2. Gypsum, 3. Calcite, 4. Fluorite, 5. Apatite

6. Orthoclase, 7. Quartz, 8. Topaz, 9. Corundum, 10. Diamond

AJ

 An Alphabetical Jigsaw submitted to CrOZworld in July 2021.

A nice short preamble reads "Solutions begin with the given letter.  Place them in the grid jigsaw-wise, where they fit."

AJ by Eclogue

As well as the peripheral NINA, the longest entries are (A)cross and (D)own.

Slot 4: 

Entries:                 74

Correct:                58

Correct %            78

 

Adjudicator’s comments:

 

Slot 4. Another challenging puzzle from Eclogue, complete with three mini- Ninas, identified by a number of solvers. PEDALED needed the American usage to be derived from the former, although associated clue and resulted in four incorrect entries, PERONED, BETAMEN, PEDALER and PENALED. HYPOGRYPH, requiring a cunning interpretation to derive the “gryph”, resulted in a further four errors. Other errors included XMAS (2) and XION for XIAN.

Slot 5. Comments by solvers would suggest that three-letter words are not

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Solver comments:

 

November 4: Eclogue (Keith Williams and Eddie Looby)

·                     I like the NINAS - BEGINS and THE END! Ann Millard

·                     Begins the end. The end! Julie Leigh

·                     This was a tough AJ to finish! Fraser Simpson

·                     Reassuring to see “begins the end the end.” Something’s in the right place. Roy Taylor

·                     Definitely a challenge here, with several new or unfamiliar usages. I liked NEUTRALIST, and had to guess for A, F and J. Not sure about Y either, if Shaky is part anagrind and part indicator. Kathy Horadam

·                     I’ve never done an AJ without pen and paper before. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if I’ve messed it up. Jenny Wenham

·                     As expected with an AJ, a few unusual words. Sad there’s only one beginning but two ends. Ulla Axelsen

·                     I found this quite hard but satisfying to finish. Robyn McKenzie

·                     Interesting AJ. Loved WALPOLE and ODORLESS. Beverley Cockburn

·                     Very clever! “BEGINS” across the top and “THE END” across the bottom and down the right side. Michael Veress

·                     Clever how once you finish it, the crossword shows you where it begins and where the ends are. David Parsons

·                     Some words were new to me, so fingers crossed! Anne Simons

·                     Liked HIPPOGRYPH and WALPOLE. The Oxford college KEBLE (not KINGS) was a surprise. Max Roddick

·                     There is a NINA. Begins, The end, The End. (I think!!) Marian Procter

·                     Nina begins and (twice) reaches the end. Andrew Miles

·                     Handy to know where the puzzle begins and ends! Kath Harper

·                     GOSPODARS, assuming it’s correct, caused some consternation in the Skinner household. Richard Skinner

·                     Begins, the end. the end. But what is a Yzmjow? Jim Fowler