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Synthetic Moissanite


Properties
Chemical Composition: 
Silicon Carbide - SiC
Classification / Type: 
This is a man made material. The term synthetic is used since it has a natural counterpart as inclusions seen in diamonds and other gemstones.
Colors / Varieties: 
All colors but colorless and light yellow are common.
Crystal System / Forms: 
Hexagonal
Hardness: 
9.5
Specific Gravity: 
3.22
Cleavage / Fracture: 
Indistinct / Conchoidal fracture
Optic Character: 
Anisotropic, D.R.; Uniaxial Positive
Lustre: 
Adamantine
Refractive Index / Birefringence: 
2.648 - 2.691 / 0.043
Pleochroism: 
Weak
Dispersion: 
0.105 (high fire)
Magnification: 
Strong doubling of facet edges, inclusions and culet (generally seen through kite facet), reflective needles.
U.V. Fluorescence: 
Inert
Spectrum: 
Not characteristic
Cause of Color: 
-
Treatment (Enhancement): 
-
Specific Tests & Remarks: 
Moissanite probes are available which are defined for synthetic moissanite values of thermal conduction such as moissanite thermal probe.
Synthesis: 
Large crystals are grown by sublimation from a feed powder, diffusion through graphite and growth directly from the vapor phase on a seed crystal. In the sublimation process, the silicon carbide vaporizes and recrystallises without passing through the liquid stage.
Simulants (with key separation tests): 
G.G.G. (dispersion, doubling, S.G.), Y.A.G. (dispersion, doubling, S.G.), Synthetic Cubic Zirconia (S.G., dispersion, doubling), Diamond (dispersion, doubling, inclusions, S.G.), Strontium Titanate (dispersion, doubling, S.G.), Sphene (dispersion, inclusions), Synthetic Rutile (S.G., dispersion), etc.
Geological Occurrence: 
In a laboratory.
Sources: 
-
Cuts & Uses: 
Facetted cuts.
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