mineral

Diamond

Carbon (C)

Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale (hardest known natural material); Color: colorless, white, yellow, brown, blue, green, pink; Luster: adamantine; Crystal structure: isometric (cubic); Cleavage: perfect octahedral cleavage; Specific gravity: 3.50-3.53

Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale (hardest known natural material)
Color: colorless, white, yellow, brown, blue, green, pink
Luster: adamantine

Identified July 30, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions (approximately 900-1300 degrees Celsius and 45-60 kilobars) in the Earth's mantle at depths of 150-200 kilometers, then brought to the surface via deep-source volcanic eruptions (kimberlite and lamproite pipes) over billions of years.

Uses & applications

Widely used in fine jewelry and as gemstones due to extreme brilliance and fire; extensively used in industrial cutting, grinding, drilling, and polishing tools due to its unmatched hardness.

Geological facts

Diamonds are the only gemstones made of a single element (carbon). Some diamonds contain microscopic inclusions that provide clues about the deep Earth's mantle.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified by its extreme hardness, adamantine luster, high thermal conductivity, and isometric crystal habit (often octahedral or rounded dodecahedral forms). Major sources include Russia, Botswana, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.