mineral

Silicon Carbide (Carborundum)

Silicon Carbide, SiC

Very hard (Mohs 9-9.5), highly lustrous (often iridescent or metallic), sharp angular crystal structure, usually black or dark colored but can show various colors depending on impurities. Very low density compared to other hard minerals.

Identified July 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Synthetic material produced in a high-temperature electric resistance furnace by fusing silica sand and carbon (usually petroleum coke). Rarely found in nature as the mineral moissanite.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as an abrasive (sandpaper, grinding wheels), in refractory materials, high-temperature ceramics, and in semiconductor electronics.

Geological facts

It was originally synthesized by Edward Goodrich Acheson in 1891. While common as a synthetic, its natural counterpart, moissanite, is extremely rare and usually found only in meteorites.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its extreme hardness, brilliant iridescence, sharp brittle crystals, and synthetic nature. Common in rock shops as an inexpensive novelty.