gemstone
Diamond (Cut Gemstone)
Carbon (C)
Mohs hardness of 10, clear/white color, adamantine luster, isometric/cubic crystal system, octahedral cleavage, specific gravity of 3.52
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 10, clear/white color, adamantine luster, isometric/cubic crystal system, octahedral cleavage, specific gravity of 3.52
Formation & geological history
Formed under extreme high pressure and temperature in the Earth's mantle, approximately 100 to 150 miles deep, and transported to the surface by kimberlite volcanic eruptions over billions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in jewelry (rings, necklaces), as industrial abrasives for cutting and grinding, and in high-precision scientific equipment.
Geological facts
Diamond is the hardest natural substance known on Earth. Most natural diamonds are between 1 billion and 3.5 billion years old.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic dispersion (fire), extreme hardness, and thermal conductivity. Field identification involves looking in kimberlite pipes or alluvial deposits.
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Ammolite (Biogenic Aragonite with trace elements; fossils of Placenticeras meeki and Placenticeras intercalare)
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Cubic Zirconia (simulant) or Diamond
ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia) or C (Diamond)
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Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions
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Cubic Zirconia (or possibly Diamond)
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Unknown transparent mineral, possibly Diamond (C), Cubic Zirconia (ZrO2), Quartz (SiO2), or Glass
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