 Believe it or not, there are many people who don’t actually know what a diamond is. They know it is beautiful, brilliant, sought after and expensive. They know that it will last a life time and comes in different shapes, sizes, clarity and colors. Diamonds are a gemstone that has taken a long time to develop.
According to mineralogists and geologists, diamonds are formed from carbon that crystalizes. Theory states that they were formed millions of years ago when volcanic eruptions brought the diamond ore near the service. Diamond mines are found hundreds of miles below the earth’s surface. When a diamond mine is eventually discovered, it can be mined for many years, producing a variety of weights and sizes of these much sought after gemstones.
Although diamond mines were first started in South Africa, more have been found in Australia, Botswana, South America, Guinea, Russia, Canada, Brazil and Venezuela. Diamonds are found in many other countries as well.
Different uses for diamonds
Diamonds are one of the hardest mineral/stones on this earth. Most diamond mines turn out their discoveries to be sold on the world market in the form of expensive jewelry and collections, but over time there have been other uses found for diamonds. Since the uses for this hard gemstone grow yearly, processes to make diamonds in laboratories have been successful to meet these new demands.
Mohs scale
| Mohs Hardness |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| Mineral |
Talc |
Gypsum |
Calcite |
Fluorite |
Apatite |
Orthoclase |
Quartz |
Topaz |
Corundum |
Diamond |
Diamonds are used for drilling, grinding, polishing abrasives for other gems, engraving tools, coatings for files, windows that are used to cover the openings of lasers, x-rays and vacuum chambers, and coatings for semi-conductors, micro-chips and other intricate parts of micro-computers.
Different types of diamonds
Although most diamonds range between a crystal white to yellow, rare diamonds in other colors have been found. Blue, brown, green and purple have been found. These are rare and usually very expensive. White and yellow diamonds are the most common found in most of the mines.
There are different grades of diamonds with the crudest being a black form. This form is usually the grade that is used for industrial procedures. It is these black diamonds that are used as drill bits, sanders, and abrasive materials.
The clearer diamonds, those that are white, yellow are the most often ones found in the jewelers care. They are cut according to inclusions and fractures, polished and mounted and sold from country to country. The large diamonds that have been found over the years are normally snatched up by the rich and famous or by museums and art institutes around the world.
Diamonds that are available for consumer purchase are usually rated by clarity, cut, carat and certification. Diamonds are one stone, one natural mineral that do not seem to be diminishing in quantity. They will last a lifetime and will always be the choice for engagement rings, wedding sets, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and that special gift on that special date. They never lose their value and they never diminish in quality.
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