gemstone
Diamond or Cubic Zirconia
Carbon (diamond) or Zirconium dioxide (cubic zirconia)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectA faceted, colorless, highly reflective, and refractive stone. If diamond, Mohs hardness 10. If CZ, Mohs hardness ~8-8.5.
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Physical properties
A faceted, colorless, highly reflective, and refractive stone. If diamond, Mohs hardness 10. If CZ, Mohs hardness ~8-8.5.
Formation & geological history
Natural diamonds form deep in the Earth's mantle under high pressure and temperature over billions of years. Cubic Zirconia is synthetically created in a lab.
Uses & applications
Used in jewelry, decorative items. Diamonds are also used in industrial cutting/grinding tools.
Geological facts
Cubic Zirconia is the most common diamond simulant. Without professional testing, it can be difficult to tell them apart visually from a simple photo.
Field identification & locations
Identify using a diamond tester, thermal conductivity probe, or by checking for double refraction/dispersion under specialized magnification.
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