Moissanite
| Moissanite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | |
| Category | Mineral species |
| Formula (repeating unit) | SiC |
| Strunz classification | 1.DA.05 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless, green, yellow |
| Crystal system | 6H polytype, most common: hexagonal |
| Mohs scale hardness | ~9.5 |
| Luster | Adamantine to metallic |
| Streak | Greenish gray |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 3.218–3.22 |
| Refractive index | nω = 2.654 nε = 2.967 |
| Birefringence | 0.313 (6H form) |
| Dispersion | 0.104 |
| Ultraviolet fluorescence | Orange-red |
| Melting point | 2730 °C (decomposes) |
| Solubility | None |
| Other characteristics | Not radioactive, diamagnetic |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Moissanite (/ˈmɔɪsəˌnaɪt/)[4] is a kind of silicon carbide, a mineral. It can be found in nature, and it has some polymorphs.
It has the chemical formula SiC. It is a rare mineral, discovered by the French chemist Henri Moissan in 1893.
Origin of the name of the mineral: The mineral form of silicon carbide, was named (after Henri Moissan, or) in honor of Moissan.
Double refraction is a property of moissanite.[5]
The mineral has been found in meteorites.[6]
Uses (or applications)
[change | change source]
Moissanite came into the jewelry market as a diamond alternative in 1998 after Charles & Colvard (formerly known as C3 Inc.) got patents to create and market some kinds of gemstones; Those stones were (made in a laboratory, or they were) lab-grown silicon carbide gemstones. The company was the first to do that. By 2018, all patents on the original process world-wide, had (ended or) expired.[7][8][9] Several companies have used [their own trademark, or] a trademark. Some trademarks that have been used are, Forever One, Forever Brilliant, and Forever Classic.[10] Other manufacturers (sell or) market silicon carbide gemstones under trademarked names such as Amora.
Use as a fake diamond: Sometimes the mineral gets used as (a fake or) counterfeit diamond. Testing equipment that (uses or) is based on thermal conductivity can give test results similar to diamond.[11]
Diamond testers (a kind of machine), sometimes make mistakes when used on moissanite.[12]
Sources
[change | change source]- ↑ Moissanite. Webmineral
- ↑ Moissanite. Mindat
- ↑ Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W. and Nichols, Monte C. (eds.) "Moissanite" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America
- ↑ "Moissanite". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2nd ed. 1989.
- ↑ https://www.moissaniteco.com/double-refraction#:~:text=Moissanite%20has%20a%20property%20known,peridot%2C%20tourmaline%2C%20and%20zircon. Retrieved 2025-09-26
- ↑ https://barringercrater.com/blog/moissanite-discovered-in-1893-at-arizona-meteor-crater#:~:text=Moissanite%20was%20Discovered%20in%201893,abrasives%2C%20electronics%20and%20as%20gemstones. Retrieved 2025-09-26
- ↑ US patent 5762896, Hunter, Charles Eric & Verbiest, Dirk, "Single crystal gems hardness, refractive index, polishing, and crystallization"
- ↑ US expired 5723391, Hunter, Charles Eric & Verbiest, Dirk, "Silicon carbide gemstones"
- ↑ "Moissanite gem patent restrictions by country and year of expiration". Better than Diamond.
- ↑ "Moissanite Rights". Professional Jeweler Magazine. May 1998. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- ↑ "Diamond look-alike comparison chart". gemsociety.org. International Gem Society.
- ↑ https://www.brilliantearth.com/gemstones/buying-guide/moissanite/does-moissanite-pass-diamond-tester/. Retrieved 2025-09-26
