---
title: "Fracture: meaning in gemology"
description: "Fracture is the way a gem breaks when it does not split along a cleavage plane. Conchoidal fracture leaves curved, shell-like surfaces."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/fracture
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Gemstone properties

# Fracture

Also called conchoidal fracture

Fracture is the way a gem breaks when it does not split along a cleavage plane. Conchoidal fracture leaves curved, shell-like surfaces.

## In more detail

Moissanite breaks with curved, shell-like fractures. A fracture is also the name for a crack inside a stone. In colored stones, labs often call such cracks fissures.

## Related terms

- [Cleavage](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/cleavage): Cleavage is a mineral's tendency to split along flat planes in its crystal structure. A hard knock in a cleavage direction can split a stone.
- [Toughness](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/toughness): Toughness is a gem's resistance to chipping and breaking. It differs from hardness, which is resistance to scratching.
- [Fissure](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/fissure): A fissure is a crack in a gem, often open to the surface. Labs use the word for the cracks that fillers can enter.
- [Durability](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/durability): Durability is a gem's ability to resist scratching, breaking, and damage from heat, light or chemicals. It has three parts: hardness, toughness and stability.

## Learn more

- [Diamond vs moissanite properties: hardness, refractive index, dispersion, density](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/diamond-vs-moissanite/diamond-vs-moissanite-properties)
- [Moissanite vs diamond: wear, care and cleaning](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/diamond-vs-moissanite/moissanite-vs-diamond-durability-and-care)

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)