Natural Moissanite – Overview
Intro
Natural moissanite is an exceptionally rare silicon carbide material known more for its scientific interest than for mainstream jewellery supply.
Overview
This starter entry treats natural moissanite as an educational record that explains why most jewellery moissanite is synthetic, while preserving space for collector and mineralogy content.
About
This starter entry treats natural moissanite as an educational record that explains why most jewellery moissanite is synthetic, while preserving space for collector and mineralogy content. Natural Moissanite is presented here as a structured gemstone record ready for linked buyer guides, research posts, and media galleries.
History
Natural moissanite was first identified in material associated with a meteor crater and remains exceptionally rare.
Key Properties
| Mineral / material | Moissanite |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | SiC |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal |
| Colour | Usually near-colourless to greenish; natural material is extremely rare |
| Refractive index | 2.65 – 2.69 |
| Birefringence | 0.043 |
| Specific gravity | 3.21 |
| Mohs hardness | 9.25 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Transparency | Transparent to translucent |
| Toughness | Very good |