Diamond is one of the two best
known forms (or allotropes) of
carbon, whose hardness and high
dispersion of light make it useful
for industrial applications and
jewelry. (The other equally well
known allotrope is graphite.)
Diamonds are specifically
renowned as a mineral with
superlative physical qualities ¡ª
they make excellent abrasives
because they can be scratched
only by other diamonds, Borazon,
ultrahard fullerite, or aggregated
diamond nanorods, which also
means they hold a polish
extremely well and retain luster.
About 130 million carats (26,000
kg) are mined annually, with a
total value of nearly USD $9
billion. About 100,000 kg are
synthesized annually.
The name ¡°diamond¡± derives
from the ancient Greek adamas
(¦Á¦Ä?¦Ì¦Á?; ¡°invincible¡±). They have
been treasured as gemstones
since their use as religious icons
in India at least 2,500 years ago¡ª
and usage in drill bits and
engraving tools also dates to
early human history. Popularity of
diamonds has risen since the 19th
century because of increased
supply, improved cutting and
polishing techniques, growth in
the world economy, and
innovative and successful
advertising campaigns. They are
commonly judged by the ¡°four
Cs¡±: carat, clarity, color, and cut.
Although synthetic diamonds are
produced each year at nearly four
times the rate of natural
diamonds, the vast majority of
synthetic diamonds produced are
small imperfect diamonds
suitable only for industrial-grade
use.
Roughly 49% of diamonds
originate from central and
southern Africa, although
significant sources of the mineral
have been discovered in Canada,
India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia.
They are generally mined from
volcanic pipes, which are deep in
the Earth where the high pressure
and temperature enables the
formation of the crystals. The
mining and distribution of natural
diamonds are subjects of frequent
controversy¡ªsuch as with
concerns over the sale of conflict
diamonds by African paramilitary
groups. There are also allegations
that the De Beers Group misuses
its dominance in the industry to
control supply and manipulate
price via monopolistic practices,
although in recent years the
company's market share has
dropped to below 50%.
A diamond is a transparent crystal
of pure carbon consisting of
tetrahedrally bonded carbon
atoms. Humans have been able to
adapt diamonds for many uses
because of the material's
exceptional physical
characteristics. Most notable
among these properties are the
extreme hardness of diamond, its
high dispersion index, and high
thermal conductivity. These
properties form the basis for most
modern applications of diamond.
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known forms (or allotropes) of
carbon, whose hardness and high
dispersion of light make it useful
for industrial applications and
jewelry. (The other equally well
known allotrope is graphite.)
Diamonds are specifically
renowned as a mineral with
superlative physical qualities ¡ª
they make excellent abrasives
because they can be scratched
only by other diamonds, Borazon,
ultrahard fullerite, or aggregated
diamond nanorods, which also
means they hold a polish
extremely well and retain luster.
About 130 million carats (26,000
kg) are mined annually, with a
total value of nearly USD $9
billion. About 100,000 kg are
synthesized annually.
The name ¡°diamond¡± derives
from the ancient Greek adamas
(¦Á¦Ä?¦Ì¦Á?; ¡°invincible¡±). They have
been treasured as gemstones
since their use as religious icons
in India at least 2,500 years ago¡ª
and usage in drill bits and
engraving tools also dates to
early human history. Popularity of
diamonds has risen since the 19th
century because of increased
supply, improved cutting and
polishing techniques, growth in
the world economy, and
innovative and successful
advertising campaigns. They are
commonly judged by the ¡°four
Cs¡±: carat, clarity, color, and cut.
Although synthetic diamonds are
produced each year at nearly four
times the rate of natural
diamonds, the vast majority of
synthetic diamonds produced are
small imperfect diamonds
suitable only for industrial-grade
use.
Roughly 49% of diamonds
originate from central and
southern Africa, although
significant sources of the mineral
have been discovered in Canada,
India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia.
They are generally mined from
volcanic pipes, which are deep in
the Earth where the high pressure
and temperature enables the
formation of the crystals. The
mining and distribution of natural
diamonds are subjects of frequent
controversy¡ªsuch as with
concerns over the sale of conflict
diamonds by African paramilitary
groups. There are also allegations
that the De Beers Group misuses
its dominance in the industry to
control supply and manipulate
price via monopolistic practices,
although in recent years the
company's market share has
dropped to below 50%.
A diamond is a transparent crystal
of pure carbon consisting of
tetrahedrally bonded carbon
atoms. Humans have been able to
adapt diamonds for many uses
because of the material's
exceptional physical
characteristics. Most notable
among these properties are the
extreme hardness of diamond, its
high dispersion index, and high
thermal conductivity. These
properties form the basis for most
modern applications of diamond.
Return to Homepage
See more top product guides
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