mineral

Rough Diamond

Carbon (C)

Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale (hardest known natural material); Color: colorless, white, yellowish, brownish, or various fancy colors; Luster: adamantine; Crystal structure: isometric (cubic); Cleavage: perfect octahedral; Specific gravity: 3.50-3.53

Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale (hardest known natural material)
Luster: adamantine

Identified July 30, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed under high temperature and extreme pressure conditions deep within the Earth's mantle (typically 150-200 kilometers down) and brought to the surface through deep-seated volcanic eruptions of kimberlite and lamproite magmas, with ages ranging from 1 to over 3 billion years.

Uses & applications

Widely used in high-end jewelry as gemstones, and heavily utilized in industrial applications such as cutting tools, abrasives, drilling bits, and heat sinks due to its unmatched hardness and thermal conductivity.

Geological facts

Diamonds are the only gemstone composed of a single element (carbon). Despite their extreme hardness, they can be split along their cleavage planes with a precise blow, a property utilized by diamond cutters.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its octahedral or cubic crystal habit, greasy-to-adamantine luster, and ability to scratch all other minerals. Found notably in countries such as Russia, Botswana, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.