Diamonds: Are They Really Forever?

         

          Diamonds are the hardest mineral on earth; they cannot be scratched by anything except other diamonds. Diamonds are one of the four allotropes of the element carbon. When elements are said to have different allotropes that means that they can exist in different forms. There are four known allotropes of carbon: graphite, amorphous carbon, fullerenes, and diamonds. Solid allotropes exist as different crystal structures and diamonds are the strongest crystal structure present in carbon. Diamonds are formed in the earth’s mantle (about ninety miles below the earth’s surface) where heat and pressure arrange carbon atoms to form a compact structure. This compact arrangement of atoms is the source of the diamond’s hardness and its shape. Diamond crystals are usually octahedral like the mineral fluorite, but they have rounded edges and convex faces. Diamonds are brought to the earth’s surface by volcanic eruptions and are often found in volcanic rocks, most notably kimberlite. Diamonds often make their way into rivers where they are sometimes mistaken for worthless pebbles!

          As I said before, diamonds are the hardest mineral on earth. The only way to cut a diamond is to do so with another diamond, such as a diamond wheel or a diamond drill. Diamonds will not be broken down by acid either. Because they are so hard and acid will not dissolve them diamonds are often thought to be indestructible. That is why they are so often used as a symbol of marriage because “diamonds are forever.” Unfortunately this is not true. While it is impossible to scratch a diamond with anything other than another diamond there are ways to destroy them. Since they are nothing more than carbon, diamonds will burn (anybody see the movie Fireproof?) Diamonds can also be broken if they are struck with a sharp, hard blow.
          The most popular use of diamonds is that of jewelry. Diamonds are the symbol of engagement, as well as the official gemstone of 10^th and 60^th wedding anniversaries. Clear, flawless diamonds are the most popular, but black, green, pink, gray, red, and blue varieties also exist. As gemstones diamonds are graded by the “Four C’s:” cut, clarity, color, and carat. As well as their hardness diamonds also have a brilliant “fire” and luster. Other than as gemstones diamonds are used in industry, where their extreme hardness makes them very valuable cutting tools. Diamonds are used to make polishing wheels, drills, and saws. Lower-grade diamonds are usually the ones used in industrial applications because they cost considerably less. The least expensive diamonds that are often used include black or “bort” diamonds and a microcrystalline variety of diamond called carbonados. The term microcrystalline refers to a mineral that exists as a giant mass of tiny crystals instead of one large crystal. Jasper is a microcrystalline variety of the mineral quartz. Carbonados are composed of many tiny diamond crystals and are used mainly in industry due to their unattractive appearance.

          Diamonds are found in many African countries such as: Ghana, Sierra Leone, Zaire, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. They are also found in the former USSR and the United States. Today most diamonds come from Australia.

          Diamonds are certainly interesting stones, after all nothing on earth can scratch them (save for other diamonds), acids have no effect on them, and it requires great force to break one. But remember, as hard as they are diamonds are not indestructible.