gemstone
Cubic Zirconia
Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 8-8.5 on Mohs scale. Color: Colorless (can be doped with various elements to produce colors). Luster: Adamantine. Crystal Structure: Cubic (isometric). Cleavage: None. Specific Gravity: 5.6-6.0.
- Hardness
- 8-8
- Luster
- Adamantine
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Physical properties
Hardness: 8-8.5 on Mohs scale. Color: Colorless (can be doped with various elements to produce colors). Luster: Adamantine. Crystal Structure: Cubic (isometric). Cleavage: None. Specific Gravity: 5.6-6.0.
Formation & geological history
Synthetically produced in a laboratory. It is formed by melting zirconium oxide powder with stabilizers like yttrium or calcium at very high temperatures and then allowing it to crystallize as it cools.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a diamond simulant in jewelry due to its high dispersion and low cost.
Geological facts
Cubic zirconia was discovered in its natural form (baddeleyite) in 1937, but the synthetic version used for jewelry wasn't perfected until 1973 by Soviet scientists.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its high dispersion (more colorful flashes than diamond) and lack of inclusions under magnification. It is also heavier than a diamond of the same size. Commonly found in commercial jewelry.
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