Diamond vs Zircon
Diamond and Zircon are genuine alternatives to one another — a choice somebody actually makes — and differ on 4 measured properties, crystal system most clearly.
Diamond vs Zircon
Diamond
C
Carbon in a cubic lattice — the hardest naturally occurring substance, and one of the best thermal conductors known.
Zircon
ZrSiO4
A tough silicate that traps uranium and refuses lead — which is how the age of the Earth is known, and the only real source of zirconium.
| Property | Diamond | Zircon |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal system Categorical values can be listed side by side but not ordered or subtracted. | cubic | tetragonal |
| Density | 3.5–3.53 g/cm³ | 4.6–4.7 g/cm³ higher |
| Lustre Categorical values can be listed side by side but not ordered or subtracted. | adamantine | adamantine |
| Mohs hardness Mohs hardness is an ordinal scale: values can be ranked, but differences and ratios between them are not meaningful. | 10 higher | 7.5–8 |
| Refractive index | 2.417 higher | 1.92–2.01 |
| Streak Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | Not known | white |
| Thermal conductivity Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | 900–2320 W/(m·K) | Not known |