cubic Simulant diamond simulant
Cubic Zirconia (Faceted (Brilliant Cut))
Formula ZrO2 (stabilised with Y2O3 or CaO)
Crystal Structure
#! Species: Cubic Zirconia
#! System: Cubic (m3m)
#! Habit: Fluorite-type octahedron modified by cube
cubic[m3m]:{111}@1.0 + {100}@0.8
cubic
m3m
{111} {100}
Quick Facts
Hardness
8.0
Specific Gravity
5.65
Refractive Index
2.15
Optical Character
Isotropic
Physical Properties
- Crystal System
- cubic
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 8.0
- Specific Gravity
- 5.65
- Cleavage
- None
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
- Lustre
- Adamantine to sub-adamantine
Optical Properties
- Refractive Index
- 2.15
- Birefringence
- 0
- Optical Character
- Isotropic
- Dispersion
- 0.06
- Fluorescence
- Variable, often yellowish-green (LW UV)
Origin & Identification
- Origin
- Simulant
- Growth Method
- Skull Melting
- First Produced
- 1976
- Diagnostic Features
- Higher SG than diamond (5.65-5.95 vs 3.52), lower hardness (8-8.5), higher dispersion (0.060 vs 0.044), singly refractive, thermal probe reads non-diamond, orange flash under crossed filters
Characteristics
Colours
ColourlessAll colours (by doping)
Common Inclusions
Gas bubblesZirconium oxide crystals
Natural Counterpart
The natural gem this simulant imitates
Related Minerals
Other minerals in the cubic system
