mineral

Cubic Zirconia (Diamond Simulant)

Zirconium Dioxide (ZrO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 8–8.5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Colorless (in this specimen), can be tinted; Luster: Adamantine; Crystal Structure: Cubic; Specific Gravity: 5.6–6.0

Hardness: 8–8
Color: Colorless (in this specimen), can be tinted
Luster: Adamantine

Identified May 3, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 8–8.5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Colorless (in this specimen), can be tinted; Luster: Adamantine; Crystal Structure: Cubic; Specific Gravity: 5.6–6.0

Formation & geological history

The natural mineral baddeleyite is rare; commercial cubic zirconia is an isotropic synthesized material created through the 'skull melting' process where zirconium oxide powder is heated until it crystallizes during cooling.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a lower-cost alternative to diamonds in jewelry; also used in industrial applications requiring high thermal and chemical resistance.

Geological facts

First synthesized in 1970 by Soviet scientists at the Lebedev Physical Institute; it is much heavier than diamond, weighing about 1.7 times more for the same size.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its high dispersion (more 'fire' or rainbow flashes than diamond), use of a thermal conductivity probe (it is a thermal insulator, whereas diamond is a conductor), and lack of natural inclusions under magnification.