What is Moissanite?
Moissanite is a memorable bridge between mineralogy and gemology. Its high refractive brilliance and exceptional hardness are matched by a remarkable origin story in meteorites and unusual high-temperature geological settings.
Mineralogy and crystal structure
Reference formula: SiC. Moissanite is silicon carbide and occurs in numerous polytypes. The selected COD model is a representative wurtzite-type structure; natural moissanite is rare, while most jewellery material is laboratory-grown and should be disclosed as such. Moissanite is classified with carbides and has a hexagonal crystal system. Typical hardness is 9–9.5 on the Mohs scale and specific gravity is approximately 3.2–3.3.
Colour, lustre and habit
Typical colours include colourless, green, yellow, brown, black. The usual hexagonal, prismatic, granular habit and adamantine, metallic lustre help describe a specimen, but colour alone is not diagnostic.
Formation and notable localities
Moissanite forms in or is associated with meteorites, high-temperature terrestrial rocks, kimberlitic environments and synthetic gem production. Important documented localities include meteorites, the United States, Israel, Russia and rare terrestrial occurrences worldwide.
Diamond-like brilliance with a cosmic origin
Moissanite is a memorable bridge between mineralogy and gemology. Its high refractive brilliance and exceptional hardness are matched by a remarkable origin story in meteorites and unusual high-temperature geological settings.
Collecting and care
Very hard but brittle at edges; protect from impact and clearly distinguish natural mineral specimens from synthetic gem material.
