What is a Diamond?

Diamonds are solid, often inorganic, homogenous, naturally occurring substances with definite chemical composition and an organised internal atom arrangement. Diamonds are formed under great pressure. In the upper mantle, 150 kilometres deep. The diamond structure is made up entirely of pure carbon. Deep mantle rock rises as a result of rifting. Kimberlite pipes contain diamonds.

Although certain diamonds are semiconductors, they do not conduct electricity well. When exposed to a high temperature in the presence of oxygen, diamonds can burn. Diamond has a high specific gravity; given the low atomic weight of carbon, it is incredibly dense. A diamond’s brilliance and fire are attributable to its high dispersion and refractive index. Any transparent substance with the maximum reflectance and index of refraction is diamond.

Diamonds are typically transparent or pale blue, but coloured diamonds, known as ‘fancies,’ have been discovered in every colour of the rainbow. Boron, which gives the colour a bluish tint, and nitrogen, which gives the colour a yellow tint, are two prevalent trace contaminants. Kimberlite and lamproite are two volcanic rocks that may contain diamonds.

A Diamond’s Characteristics

Transparency, lustre, light dispersion, and colour are the four fundamental optical qualities of diamonds. Diamond is absolutely clear and translucent in its pure carbon state. Perfection, like all-natural substances, is nearly impossible to achieve. Diamonds are the world’s hardest substance. And the only thing that separates this ugly lump of coal from this lovely diamond is pressure and heat. This lovely diamond didn’t start off looking like it does now. Uncut diamonds, in reality, have a greasy sheen and aren’t particularly bright. When cut, however, the same stones have a brilliant brilliance. The basic goal of diamond cutting is to bring out the stone’s fire and brightness.

The Chemical Formula of Diamonds

Because it is composed of the element carbon, a diamond’s chemical formula is simple and is symbolised by just a “C.” Other trace elements or impurities account for less than 0.05 percent of the chemical composition of a diamond. These trace elements, which can be found in kimberlite igneous rocks, can sometimes impact the colour or shape of the mineral. Trace elements, commonly known as impurities, can increase or decrease the value of valuable minerals.

The mineral graphite is similarly made out of carbon, although it is softer than diamonds. Diamonds are so hard, in fact, that they can damage glass and other materials.

Graphite appears black when compared to glittering diamonds.

Geometry

Diamond is the smallest element with the lowest mass that can form a stable covalently bonded crystal lattice that is highly symmetric and securely bound.

The importance of geometric crystallography stems from the fact that the exterior form of a crystal reveals the symmetry aspects of its interior structure, which are in turn directly related to the solid’s physical properties.

The material’s extraordinary qualities, combined with recent advances in its synthesis, have sparked a surge of interest in it for a variety of optical technologies, including sensors, sources, and light manipulators.
As a result, understanding diamond’s crystal formations is a crucial first step toward comprehending its many unique qualities.
Diamonds are often found as single complete crystals surrounded on all sides by natural faces, which is a distinguishing feature.
Each carbon atom in a diamond is covalently connected to four other carbon atoms. As a result, it is extremely robust and has a high melting and boiling point. Diamond cannot carry electricity because it lacks electrons.

Material Characteristics

The presence of nitrogen as a prominent impurity in diamond has been recognised, as has the presence of boron ( 20 ppm), which is responsible for Type IIb diamond’s semiconducting properties. Diamond is a poor chemical sink for various elements in terms of concentration levels, despite the fact that 58 elements have been identified at the trace impurity level.

Diamonds have different colours

The most prevalent impurity detected in gem diamonds is nitrogen, which is responsible for the brown and colour of diamonds.

The yellow diamond is followed by brown, colourless, blue, green, black, pink, orange, purple, and red in a sequence of rarity.
Colour diamonds are coloured by impurities or structural flaws, whereas pure or nearly pure diamonds are transparent and colourless.
Diamonds can also be synthesised in a high-pressure, high-temperature process that closely resembles the conditions found in the Earth’s mantle. Chemical vapour deposition is an alternative and altogether different growth process (CVD).

Applications

Because of the material’s outstanding physical properties, diamonds have been adopted for a wide range of applications.

It is well-suited to everyday use, unlike many other stones, due to its resistance to scratching, which may contribute to its popularity as the chosen diamond in engagement or wedding rings, which are frequently worn every day.
In the jewellery industry, the diamond is the most valuable gemstone.
The colourless stone is the most popular for jewellery, but yellow and brownstones are also popular.
Thin diamond membranes are used to cover gaps in lasers, x-ray equipment, and vacuum chambers to create diamond windows.

Diamonds of Various Types

Diamonds that have been mined naturally

The type and quantity of impurities present in natural diamonds are used to classify them.

Type Ia – This is the most prevalent type of natural diamond, with a nitrogen content of up to 0.3 percent.
Type Ib – This type of diamond is found in only 0.1 percent of natural diamonds, but it is found in practically all synthetic industrial diamonds. Type Ib diamonds can contain up to 500 parts per million of nitrogen.
Type IIa – In nature, this type is quite rare. Type IIa diamonds have so little nitrogen that infrared and ultraviolet absorption technologies can’t identify them.
Type IIb – In nature, this type is also quite rare. The nitrogen content of type IIb diamonds is so low (even lower than type IIa) that the crystal is a p-type semiconductor.

Also read: Potash Alum

FAQs

What causes a diamond to form?

Diamonds are produced deep beneath the Earth's surface over billions of years. Diamonds are formed by the element carbon under extreme heat and pressure.

What is the definition of a diamond?

Diamonds are one-of-a-kind minerals made up entirely of pristine crystalline structures. Diamonds are made up entirely of the element carbon.