mineral

Diamond

Carbon (C)

Hardness: 10 Mohs (hardest known natural substance). Color: typically colorless, can be yellow, brown, or blue. Luster: Adamantine. Crystal Structure: Isometric-hexoctahedral (cubic). Specific Gravity: 3.52. Cleavage: Perfect octahedral.

Hardness: 10 Mohs (hardest known natural substance)
Color: typically colorless, can be yellow, brown, or blue
Luster: Adamantine

Identified May 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed deep within the Earth's mantle (150-200 km deep) under extreme temperature and pressure over billions of years. They are brought to the surface through volcanic eruptions in pipes of kimberlite or lamproite rocks.

Uses & applications

Primary use in high-end jewelry and as an investment asset. Industrially used for cutting, grinding, and drilling tools due to extreme hardness, as well as in heat sinks and high-pressure research.

Geological facts

Diamonds are the only gemstone made of a single element: Carbon. Most natural diamonds are between 1 billion and 3.5 billion years old. The name comes from the Greek word 'adamas', meaning invincible.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by any other material) and its characteristic octahedral crystal shape. Commonly found in secondary alluvial deposits (riverbeds) or primary kimberlite pipes in regions like Africa, Russia, Canada, and Australia.