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, 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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How much is moissanite worth?+
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Find moissanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
