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 July 6, 2026More mineralogical simulant / gemstone →

Explore Cubic Zirconia in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google 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.