Diamond

Diamond is the eternal and most precious gemstone of the world. The name diamond was derived from an ancient Greek word, ‘adamas’ which means ‘invincible’. Diamond belongs to the class of native metals and is a member of the group of Carbon. Diamond is a ‘polymorph’ of carbon. It is marked by immense durability. Physical Properties Coming to its physical properties, it is known to be the hardest natural material to be found. It is known to have ‘four directions of cleavage’. If it is hit in any of these four directions, diamond will break easily. Its melting point is 3820K. Its density is measured as 10 in the Mohs hardness scale. It is also an excellent thermal conductor but is a poor conductor of electricity. It can be burnt if exposed to high temperature and oxygen together. It is marked with negative electron affinity due to which it resists water but easily accepts wax, grease and other hydrocarbons. Uses of Diamond Diamonds are most popularly used as gemstones for making jewelries from time immemorial because they form the finest ornaments. They have great significance in the industrial sectors also due to their toughness. They are used as appropriate cutting and milling instruments. Their industrial utility is further enhanced by the fact that diamonds are excellent abrasives. Cuts and Clarity Clarity and Cut are very important for a diamond because they determine the quality of the diamond. Clarity of diamond refers to its purity by bringing out all its defects. Diamonds are basically mined out as rough stones and they are given their popular shape only by cutting which is done both scientifically and artistically. Colors Diamonds are available in a number of exquisite colors ranging from yellow, grey, brown to blue, pink, green, black and red. They can also be colorless to transparent white. The transparent ones are the purest form of diamonds. Places Where Diamond is Found Approximately, half of the total amount of diamonds originates from Central and Southern Africa. In addition to this, Canada, India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia also accounts for considerable amounts of diamonds. The Argyle Diamond Mine which is located in the Kimberley Region of North Western Australia is famed as the world's largest diamond-producing mine. Uncle Sam Diamond Uncle Sam Diamond is a 40.23 Karat diamond which is the largest ever found in United states. TheUncle Sam diamond was discovered by W.D. Bassum and was named after the nickname of its founder.