mineral

Diamond

Diamond (pure carbon C)

Hardness: 10 (hardest natural substance). Color: Clear/colorless (can be yellow, brown, blue). Luster: Adamantine. Crystal Structure: Isometric-hexoctahedral. Specific Gravity: 3.51.

Hardness: 10 (hardest natural substance)
Color: Clear/colorless (can be yellow, brown, blue)
Luster: Adamantine

Identified April 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 10 (hardest natural substance). Color: Clear/colorless (can be yellow, brown, blue). Luster: Adamantine. Crystal Structure: Isometric-hexoctahedral. Specific Gravity: 3.51.

Formation & geological history

Formed at high pressure and temperature in the Earth's mantle (140 to 190 km deep) over 1 to 3.5 billion years. Delivered to the surface through deep-source volcanic eruptions (kimberlite and lamproite pipes).

Uses & applications

Primary use in jewelry and ornament. Industrial applications include cutting, drilling, and grinding tools due to extreme hardness. Also used in high-tech optics and electronics.

Geological facts

Diamonds are made of a single element: Carbon. The name comes from the Greek word 'adamas', meaning unbreakable. They are the birthstone for April.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by checking for the inability of steel or other minerals to scratch it. Look for high luster and octahedral crystal habits in primary deposits or rounded pebbles in secondary alluvial deposits.