cubic Simulant diamond simulant

LuAG (Lutetium Aluminium Garnet) (Faceted)

Formula Lu3Al5O12

Crystal Structure

CDL Notation

 #! Species: LuAG (Lutetium Aluminium Garnet)
#! System: Cubic (m3m)
#! Habit: Garnet-type dodecahedron with trapezohedron
cubic[m3m]:{110}@1.0 + {211}@0.7

Crystal System cubic

Point Group m3m

Crystal Forms (2)

{110} {211}

Quick Facts

Hardness

8.5

Specific Gravity

6.73

Refractive Index

1.84

Optical Character

Isotropic

Physical Properties

Crystal System: cubic
Hardness (Mohs): 8.5
Specific Gravity: 6.73
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Conchoidal
Lustre: Vitreous to sub-adamantine

Optical Properties

Refractive Index: 1.84
Birefringence: 0
Optical Character: Isotropic
Dispersion: 0.028
Fluorescence: Weak

Origin & Identification

Origin: Simulant
Growth Method: Czochralski
First Produced: 2000
Diagnostic Features: Higher RI than YAG (1.84 vs 1.833), higher hardness than most simulants (8.5), singly refractive, thermal probe reads non-diamond, rare in trade, primarily a collector/research material