mineral

Cubic Zirconia (as a jewelry specimen)

Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2)

Hardness: 8–8.5 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless (clear), Luster: Adamantine, Crystal Structure: Cubic, Specific Gravity: 5.6–6.0

Hardness: 8–8
Luster: Adamantine, Crystal Structure: Cubic, Specific Gravity: 5

Identified June 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 8–8.5 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless (clear), Luster: Adamantine, Crystal Structure: Cubic, Specific Gravity: 5.6–6.0

Formation & geological history

Primarily synthetic; created in laboratories by melting zirconium oxide powder with stabilizers like magnesium or calcium at high temperatures. Rare natural occurrences (baddeleyite) exist in carbonatites and skarns.

Uses & applications

Diamond simulant in jewelry, high-temperature industrial crucibles, and optical components due to high refractive index.

Geological facts

First synthesized in the late 19th century, but mass production for the jewelry market only began in the 1970s. It is much heavier than a diamond of the same size.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its lack of natural inclusions, high weight (heavier than diamond), and tendency to show more 'fire' (dispersion) than a real diamond. Commonly found in commercial retail jewelry.

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Mineral/Rock

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