Diamond (pronunciation: /ˈdaɪəmənd/ or /ˈdaɪmənd/) is a metastable allotrope
of carbon, where the
carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered
cubic crystal structure
called a diamond
lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at standard conditions. Diamond is renowned as a material with
superlative physical qualities, most of which originate from the strong covalent bonding between its atoms. In particular, diamond has the
highest hardness and thermal
conductivity of any bulk
material. Those properties determine the major industrial application of
diamond in cutting and polishing tools and the scientific applications in diamond knives and diamond
anvil cells.
Because of its extremely rigid
lattice, it can be contaminated by very few types of impurities, such as boron and nitrogen. Small amounts of defects or impurities
(about one per million of lattice atoms) color diamond blue (boron), yellow
(nitrogen), brown (lattice
defects), green
(radiation exposure), purple, pink, orange or red. Diamond also has relatively
high optical
dispersion (ability to
disperse light of different colors).
Most natural diamonds are formed
at high temperature and pressure at depths of 140 to 190 kilometers (87 to
118 mi) in the Earth's mantle. Carbon-containing minerals provide the carbon
source, and the growth occurs over periods from 1 billion to
3.3 billion years (25% to 75% of the age of the Earth). Diamonds are brought close to the Earth's
surface through deep volcanic
eruptions by magma, which cools into igneous rocks known as kimberlites and lamproites. Diamonds can also be produced synthetically in a
HPHT
method which
approximately simulates the conditions in the Earth's mantle. An alternative,
and completely different growth technique is chemical
vapor deposition (CVD).
Several non-diamond materials, which include cubic zirconia and silicon carbide and are often called diamond simulants, resemble diamond in appearance and many
properties. Special gemological
techniques have been
developed to distinguish natural diamonds, synthetic diamonds, and diamond
simulants. The word is from the ancient Greek ἀδάμας – adámas "unbreakable".
reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond