Zirconium dioxide jewellery. Like diamond, cubic zirconia has a cubic crystal structure and a high index of refraction. Visually discerning a good quality cubic zirconia gem from a diamond is difficult, and most jewellers will have a thermal conductivity tester to identify cubic zirconia by its low thermal conductivity (diamond is a very good thermal conductor). This state of zirconia is commonly called "cubic zirconia", "CZ", or "zircon" by jewellers, but the last name is not chemically accurate. Zircon is actually the mineral name for naturally occurring zirconium silicate (ZrSiO). Zirconium dioxide Zirconium dioxide (), sometimes known as zirconia (not to be
Anisodesmic crystal anion equals the charge on that anion." When there is more than one type of bonding in a crystal, strongly anisotropic physical properties can result such as those of graphite. Many other substances have anisotropic physical properties. Such properties are directly related to the atomic structures of the substances. Conversely, halite is an example of an isotropic crystal with equal hardness in all directions. Anisodesmic crystal An anisodesmic crystal (sometimes anisodemic crystal) is a crystal containing bonds with differing electrostatic valencies. All other crystals are known as isodesmic crystals (or isodemic) and examples include diamond and halite. These terms are