Carborandite - Natural minerals and crystals

Carborandite is a man-made synthetic stone resulting from the fusion of carbon and silicon at extremely high temperatures (1200 degrees). This fusion produces a black stone decorated with aggregates of iridescent crystals. Although rare among minerals, it is found naturally in some meteorites, first discovered by the chemist Henri Moissan in the early 20th century, and it was named "moissanite" in his honor. It is composed of a unique blend of carbide and silica, has a hardness similar to that of diamond (hardness of 9 to 9.5 on the Mohs scale) and is used in industry, notably as an abrasive under the name of Carborundum. Its chemical formula is SiC, also known as silicon carbide, and it has an iridescent black color with highlights of different colors.