gemstone
Cubic Zirconia (Set in Jewelry)
Zirconium Dioxide (ZrO2)
Hardness: 8.0-8.5 Mohs. Color: Colorless (in this specimen). Luster: Adamantine. Crystal system: Cubic. Specific gravity: 5.6-6.0. High dispersion (fire).
- Hardness
- 8
- Color
- Colorless (in this specimen)
- Luster
- Adamantine
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Physical properties
Hardness: 8.0-8.5 Mohs. Color: Colorless (in this specimen). Luster: Adamantine. Crystal system: Cubic. Specific gravity: 5.6-6.0. High dispersion (fire).
Formation & geological history
Synthetic laboratory-grown material. While naturally occurring Baddeleyite exists, gem-quality cubic zirconia is manufactured using the skull melt process to stabilize the cubic form of zirconium dioxide.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a diamond simulant in jewelry, as well as in industrial applications requiring thermal and chemical stability.
Geological facts
Cubic Zirconia was developed in 1970 by the Lebedev Physical Institute in Moscow and became a major competitor to the diamond market by the late 1970s.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its high fire (rainbow flashes) compared to diamond, heavier weight than diamond of the same size, and lack of inclusions under magnification. Typically found in silver or gold-plated settings when found in household contexts.
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