mineral

Diamond

Native Carbon (C)

Hardness: 10 (Mohs scale); Color: Colorless (in this specimen); Luster: Adamantine; Crystal Structure: Isometric-hexoctahedral; Cleavage: Perfect octahedral (111); Specific Gravity: 3.51-3.53

Hardness: 10 (Mohs scale)
Color: Colorless (in this specimen)
Luster: Adamantine

Identified March 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 10 (Mohs scale); Color: Colorless (in this specimen); Luster: Adamantine; Crystal Structure: Isometric-hexoctahedral; Cleavage: Perfect octahedral (111); Specific Gravity: 3.51-3.53

Formation & geological history

Formed under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions in the Earth's mantle, 140 to 190 kilometers deep. Transported to the surface via deep-origin volcanic eruptions (kimberlite or lamproite pipes). Geological ages range mostly from 1 to 3.5 billion years.

Uses & applications

Primary use in fine jewelry and as a gemstone. Industrial uses include cutting, grinding, and drilling tools due to extreme hardness, and as heat sinks in electronics.

Geological facts

Diamonds are the hardest known natural substance. The famous Hope Diamond is blue due to boron impurities. Many diamonds are older than the dinosaurs, with some dating back to the formation of the Earth's continents.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by high refractive index, extreme hardness (scratches all other minerals), and high thermal conductivity. Commonly found in kimberlite pipes or alluvial deposits in Russia, Botswana, Canada, and South Africa.