mineral

Diamond (or Cubic Zirconia)

Carbon (C) or Zirconium Dioxide (ZrO2)

Hardness: 10 (Diamond) or 8-8.5 (CZ); Color: Colorless/Transparent; Luster: Adamantine; Crystal Structure: Isometric/Cubic; Cleavage: Perfect octahedral (Diamond) or None (CZ); Specific Gravity: 3.52 (Diamond) or 5.6-6.0 (CZ)

Hardness: 10 (Diamond) or 8-8
Color: Colorless/Transparent
Luster: Adamantine

Identified May 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Natural diamonds form under high high-pressure/high-temperature conditions deep in the Earth's mantle and are brought to the surface via volcanic eruptions (kimberlite pipes). CZ is man-made in labs using a skull-melting process.

Uses & applications

Primary use is in high-end jewelry (earrings, rings) and industrial abrasives or cutting tools for natural diamond; imitation jewelry for CZ.

Geological facts

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth and are billions of years old. Cubic Zirconia was first discovered as a natural mineral in 1937 but is primarily known as a lab-grown gemstone developed in the 1970s.

Field identification & locations

In the field, diamond can be identified by its extreme hardness and thermal conductivity. For these specific earrings, identification would require a gemstone tester to distinguish natural diamond from simulants like Moissanite or CZ.

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