gemstone
Diamond (or Diamond Simulant)
Carbon (C)
Hardness: 10 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless (in this specimen), Luster: Adamantine, Crystal Structure: Cubic/Isometric, Specific Gravity: 3.52
Identified More gemstone →
Explore Diamond (or Diamond Simulant) in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 10 (Mohs scale), Color: Colorless (in this specimen), Luster: Adamantine, Crystal Structure: Cubic/Isometric, Specific Gravity: 3.52
Formation & geological history
Formed under extreme pressure and temperature in the Earth's mantle, approximately 100 miles below the surface, and brought to the surface by kimberlite eruptions.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in fine jewelry as a gemstone and in industrial applications for cutting, grinding, and drilling due to its unrivaled hardness.
Geological facts
Diamonds are the hardest known natural substance on Earth. Most natural diamonds are between 1 billion and 3.5 billion years old.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its brilliance, high thermal conductivity, and ability to scratch any other material. Commonly found in kimberlite pipes or alluvial deposits in Africa, Russia, and Canada.
More like this
Other gemstone specimens
Diamond and Gold Jewelry
Carbon (Diamond) / Au (Gold)
gemstone
Ammolite
Ammolite (Biogenic Aragonite with trace elements; fossils of Placenticeras meeki and Placenticeras intercalare)
mineral
Cubic Zirconia (simulant) or Diamond
ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia) or C (Diamond)
gemstone
Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions
sedimentary
Cubic Zirconia (or possibly Diamond)
Zirconium dioxide (or Carbon)
gemstone
Faceted Gemstone
Unknown transparent mineral, possibly Diamond (C), Cubic Zirconia (ZrO2), Quartz (SiO2), or Glass
gemstone