Rock Identifier
Cubic Zirconia (Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2)) — mineralogical simulant / gemstone
mineralogical simulant / gemstone

Cubic Zirconia

Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 8-8.5 Mohs scale. Color: Colorless. Luster: Adamantine to sub-adamantine. Crystal structure: Cubic. Specific gravity: 5.5-6.0. High dispersion (fire).

Hardness
8-8
Color
Colorless
Luster
Adamantine to sub-adamantine
Identified More mineralogical simulant / gemstone →
Explore Cubic Zirconia in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App StoreGoogle Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 8-8.5 Mohs scale. Color: Colorless. Luster: Adamantine to sub-adamantine. Crystal structure: Cubic. Specific gravity: 5.5-6.0. High dispersion (fire).

Formation & geological history

Synthesized in a laboratory using the skull melting process. Natural baddeleyite (monoclinic ZrO2) is rare and almost never found in cubic form naturally.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as a diamond simulant in jewelry, and for industrial applications requiring high thermal and chemical resistance.

Geological facts

First synthesized in the laboratory in the 1970s, it became the primary competitor to diamonds due to its low cost and high visual similarity.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its weight (nearly 1.7 times heavier than a same-sized diamond) and its tendency to show more colorful 'fire' or dispersion flashes under light.

More like this

Other mineralogical simulant / gemstone specimens

Green Obsidian Sphere (man-made glass) (Vitreous Silica with Chromium/Iron additives) — mineralogical simulant

Green Obsidian Sphere (man-made glass)

Vitreous Silica with Chromium/Iron additives

mineralogical simulant
Faceted Quartz or Cubic Zirconia (SiO2 (Quartz) or ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia)) — gemstone

Faceted Quartz or Cubic Zirconia

SiO2 (Quartz) or ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia)

gemstone
Clear Quartz (Faceted) or Cubic Zirconia / Glass imitation (SiO2 (if Quartz), ZrO2 (if Cubic Zirconia)) — mineral

Clear Quartz (Faceted) or Cubic Zirconia / Glass imitation

SiO2 (if Quartz), ZrO2 (if Cubic Zirconia)

mineral
Colorless faceted gemstone (likely glass or cubic zirconia) (Likely cubic zirconia, ZrO₂; exact identification is uncertain from the photograph) — gemstone

Colorless faceted gemstone (likely glass or cubic zirconia)

Likely cubic zirconia, ZrO₂; exact identification is uncertain from the photograph

gemstone
Cubic Zirconia (or possibly Diamond) (Zirconium dioxide (or Carbon)) — gemstone

Cubic Zirconia (or possibly Diamond)

Zirconium dioxide (or Carbon)

gemstone
Colorless faceted gemstone, likely glass or cubic zirconia (Uncertain; possible cubic zirconia (zirconium dioxide, ZrO₂) or synthetic glass) — gemstone

Colorless faceted gemstone, likely glass or cubic zirconia

Uncertain; possible cubic zirconia (zirconium dioxide, ZrO₂) or synthetic glass

gemstone