mineral

Moissanite

Silicon Carbide (SiC)

Hardness: 9.25 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless to faint green/yellow, Luster: Adamantine to metallic, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal, Cleavage: Indistinct, Specific Gravity: 3.21-3.22

Hardness: 9

Identified March 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 9.25 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless to faint green/yellow, Luster: Adamantine to metallic, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal, Cleavage: Indistinct, Specific Gravity: 3.21-3.22

Formation & geological history

Extremely rare in nature, found in meteorites and as inclusions in diamonds. Most commercial specimens are lab-created via the Lely process, mimicking high-pressure, high-temperature cosmic environments.

Uses & applications

Primary use as a diamond alternative in fine jewelry (rings, earrings), and industrial applications as an abrasive or semi-conductor material.

Geological facts

Natural moissanite was first discovered by Henri Moissan in 1893 in a meteor crater in Arizona. It is one of the hardest substances known to man, second only to diamond.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its 'fire' (dispersion), which is higher than a diamond, and its tendency to show doubling of facets under magnification. Found naturally only in trace amounts in upper mantle rocks and meteorites.