Natural moissanite is an exceptionally rare mineral originally discovered in a meteorite crater. Most specimens available to collectors are synthetic SiC, which is highly prized for its brilliant fire and hardness that rivals diamond.
Is this moissanite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch moissanite with a known reference. Moissanite sits at Mohs 9.25 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Moissanite leaves a greenish-gray streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Moissanite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, green, blue, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, hexagonal plates.
Often confused with
Moissanite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside moissanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with moissanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiC
- Mohs hardness
- 9.25
- Density
- 3.22 g/cm³
- Streak
- Greenish-gray
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Hexagonal Plates
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Gemstone, Abrasive, Industrial
- Host rock
- Kimberlite Pipes, Lamprophyre, Meteorites
- Typical price
- $50-200 per carat for high-quality synthetic
Where rockhounds find moissanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Arizona, USA
- Yakutia, Russia
- Czech Republic
- Norway
Field-hunting tip
Look in kimberlite pipes, lamprophyre, meteorites country — that is the host setting where moissanite typically forms. If you start seeing diamond, garnet, corundum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, hexagonal plates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find moissanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
