gemstone
Diamond
Carbon (C)
Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale. Color: colorless, yellow, brown, blue, green, pink, red. Luster: adamantine. Crystal structure: isometric (cubic). Specific gravity: 3.50-3.53.
- Hardness
- 10 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- colorless, yellow, brown, blue, green, pink, red
- Luster
- adamantine
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Physical properties
Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale. Color: colorless, yellow, brown, blue, green, pink, red. Luster: adamantine. Crystal structure: isometric (cubic). Specific gravity: 3.50-3.53.
Formation & geological history
Formed under high temperature and pressure conditions in Earth's mantle, typically at depths of 150-250 kilometers, and brought to the surface via deep-source volcanic eruptions (kimberlite pipes) over billions of years.
Uses & applications
Primary use is in fine jewelry and gemstones, as well as industrial cutting, grinding, and drilling tools due to extreme hardness.
Geological facts
Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance known on Earth. It is an allotrope of carbon where carbon atoms are arranged in a diamond cubic crystal lattice.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its supreme hardness, high refractive index, and adamantine luster. Major deposits are found in Russia, Botswana, Canada, and South Africa.
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