Identification

Typical diamond crystal formation of Moissanite

Pfff..... the market here is quiet during holiday season.... So plenty of time to post some interesting stuff today ! This one for my rough diamond trading friends. Our Antwerp Mayor would say "Caveat Emptor" (Be aware, buyer) : rough diamonds offered for certification to the lab. All show the typical diamond crystal formation (octahedron and dodecahedron and intermediate dissolution forms), however, they all tested as Moissanite ! It is not common to see moissanite in thess cubic form, as it is a hexagonal mineral (synthetically created). Diamond Tester will be fooled by the high termal conductivity ! In fact, these crystal were bought as diamond by a large diamond company... Visual indications are : strong doubling, anisotropic behaviour with polariscope, and 1 stone had hexagonal surface characteristics. Also scratch marks from (I assume) borazon needle. RAMAN easily identified them as Moissanite. In red the Moissanite, in black the typical diamond spectrum with 1332 cm-1.
ALGT

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