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Color:
All colors.Diamonds most commonly
occur in shades of yellow and
brown. The rarer stones are
colorless and the rarest are
reds, blues, pinks, greens in
intense saturation.
Durability:
Diamonds are the hardest of
all gemstones. That refers to
their ability to scratch. But
they can be broken along their
four planes of inherent cleavage.
Localities:
Diamond deposits are found world
wide. The most noteable being
Africa, Australia, India and
most recently Canada.
Diamond is a polymorph (many forms)
of the element carbon. Graphite is another polymorph.
The two share the same chemistry, pure carbon, but have
very different structures and properties. Diamond is
hard, Graphite is soft (the "lead" of a pencil).
Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, Graphite
is a good conductor of electricity. Diamond is the ultimate
abrasive, Graphite is a very good lubricant. Diamond
is transparent, Graphite is opaque. Diamond crystallizes
in the Isometric system and graphite crystallizes in
the hexagonal system. Somewhat of a surprise is that
at surface temperatures and pressures, Graphite is the
stable form of carbon. In fact, all diamonds at or near
the surface of the Earth are currently undergoing a
transformation into Graphite. This reaction, fortunately,
is extremely slow.
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Diamonds
have long been valued for their hardness and incredible
brilliance. Chemically a diamond is pure carbon, just
like the graphite used in pencils. Diamonds' hardness
is the result of extremely strong chemical bonds between
the carbon atoms. Although most people think of diamonds
as colorless, they actually occur in almost every color.
Diamonds were viewed as talisman by the ancient Hindus
in India, which is where diamonds were first discovered.
The most powerful stones were thought to be naturally
occurring octahedrons of exceptional clarity that exhibited
fire. These stones would bring the owner power, wealth,
everlasting youth and good fortune. It was believed that
flawed or inclusive stones could have quite the opposite
effect. During the first century AD prominent Romans wore
uncut diamonds set in rings also as talismans. For hundreds
of years it was believed that diamonds had gender. As
late as 1566, Francois Ruet described two diamonds as
having offspring. The first diamond engagement ring was
given to Mary of Burgundy by Maximillian in 1477.
More
Interseting Diamond Notes:
Clarity:
diamond is transparent over a larger range of wavelengths
(from the ultraviolet into the far infrared) than is any
other substance
Thermal
Conductivity: diamond
conducts heat better than anything - five times better than
the second best element, Silver!
Melting Point: diamond has the highest melting point (3820
degrees Kelvin)!
Lattice
Density: The atoms of diamond are packed closer
together than are the atoms of any other substance!
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