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Download hereGENERAL DESCRIPTION
Diamond is a pure carbon compound. It is formed in hypovolcanic ultrabasic rocks called "kimberlites". The crystals are cubic or octahedral. It is rather frequent to find twinned crystals. Diamond has transparent crystals and varied colors (pink, yellow, green, black). Once cut, diamond has a superb luster, showing multiple refractions of the light within the crystal ("fires").
The best known deposits are in South Africa; Brazil; Siberia; Australia; Canada, India, Sierra Leone. Some have been recently found in French Guyana.
No type nor type-locality can be defined for diamond as this mineral was known since the Antiquity.
Did you know? The largest diamond ever found is the Cullinan, weighing 3106 carats (a little more than 636 grams). Diamond is the natural mineral that is the most resistant. One uses it in jewellery for many years, it decorates the most sumptuous ornaments. Diamonds that cannot be used in jewellery are used in industry to equip for example cutting tools.
HISTORY : Name inspired from the Greek word "αδαμασ"[adamas] meaning "not flexible", "untameable", in reference to the fact that diamond cannot be scratched
Species described in 77 by Caius Plinius Secundus (23-79 AC), Roman naturalist
Type-locality: undefined because species already known from the Ancients
ANCIENT NAME : Diament
CHEMICAL FORMULA : C
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Cubic
COLOR : Colorless pale yellow, brown, pink, green, black
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Adamantine to greasy
STREAK : Colorless
MORPHOLOGIE : Octahedric, cubic crystals, twinning common
HARDNESS : 10
CHEMICAL CLASS: 3,515
DENSITY : I - Elements
GROUP : Diamond
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 1/B.02-40
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 1.CB.10
