Diamond

 

 

A diamond is a transparent crystal of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms and crystallizes into the face centered cubic diamond lattice structure. The carbon is made up of three atoms, Nitrogen, Boron, and Hydrogen. Diamonds are the hardest known naturally occurring mineral. The word diamond derives from the ancient Greek "invincible", “untamed”, “to over power”, “to tame”.

 

 

 It is most commonly colorless, shades of gray, brown, or black. Colored diamonds contain impurities or structural defects that cause coloration, while pure or nearly pure diamonds are transparent and colorless.  The impurities help create diamonds that can be blue, green, black, white, pink, violet, orange, purple, and red.

 

 

 

They are popular because they hold polish well and keep their luster. It is well suited to wear daily because of it’s resistance to scratching. Diamonds can only be scratched by other diamonds.  Diamonds are most popularly used for wedding rings and it is also the month of April's birthstone.

 

One hundred and thirty million carets are mined yearly and, with a total value of 9 billion dollars. Forty nine percent of the diamond originate from Southern Africa and the rest come from Canada, India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia. They are mined from kimberlite and lamproite volcanic pipes, which can bring diamond crystals, originating from deep within the Earth where high pressures and temperatures enable them to form, to the surface.

 

 

 Video: A Gem is Born

 

 Video: 500 Caret Flawless Diamond Found

 
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