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Diamond
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General Information:
Diamonds are the official birthstone for the month of April. The name diamond
comes from the Greek work adamas which means invincible, which
was in reference to the minerals great hardness. Diamonds are formed from the
element carbon, which forms two minerals one being diamonds the hardest known
mineral on Earth, the other graphite one of the softest minerals on Earth. The
conditions needed to form or create diamonds is extremely high temperatures and
pressures, which is only possible deep in the Earth's crust or even the upper
mantle. A large majority of diamonds are small and flawed by dark impurities,
these are the diamonds used for industrial purposes. Since diamonds are so
hard, they are used as an abrasive and for cutting and grinding.
For years diamonds have been a favorite among people, used most commonly in
wedding and engagement rings. It is said that before purchasing a diamond, the
4 C's must be known; Clarity, Carat, Color, and Cut. There are several
different grades of diamonds, determined by the clarity, cut, and color of the
gem. |
Origin:
Sources of diamonds are found in Africa, Canada, India, Russia, Brazil,
Australia, and the United States. |
Common Treatments and Lab Created
Forms:
There are several common treatments used to enhance diamonds, including; laser
drilling, applying sealants, and treatments to colorize. Laser drilling is done
to remove inclusions in the gems, while sealants are used to fill cracks. To
colorize a diamond, they will take a white diamond and use different treatments
to give it a fancy color.
For years the expense of diamonds has created many alternatives to the natural.
There are synthetic diamonds created in a laboratory that have the same
composition as natural diamonds, but they too can be pricey. Probably the most
popular simulant of diamond today is the cubic zirconia, it is affordable by
almost all and comes in an endless variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. |
Physical Properties:
Moh's Scale Hardness: 10
Specific Gravity: 3.52
Refractive Index: 2.4175–2.4178
Fracture: Conchoidal (shell-like)
Crystal Habit: Octahedral
Colors: Colourless, yellowish to yellow, brown, black, blue, green or red,
pink, champagne-tan, cognac-brown, lilac (very rare) |
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