Diaboleïte has been synthesized between 25 and 100° C at atmospheric pressure and approximate water vapour partial pressures of 14·7 lb/in². Under similar conditions at 170° C cumengéite appears to be the stable phase produced from a diaboleïte composition. Synthetic diaboleïte is much simpler morpho-logically than the natural mineral but the hemimorphic symmetry is more clearly demonstrated morphologically in the artificial specimens. A comparison of X-ray powder data for natural and synthetic diaboleïte shows almost exact detailed correspondence in line position and intensity between 0 and 180° 2θ. The cell dimensions obtained from X-ray powder data are a 5·869 ± 0·002 Å and c 5·495 ± 0·003 Å.