In book: Encyclopedia World of Earth Science, v.2, Ed. By Lerner K. L, Lerner B. W.

, Thomson Publishings Gale Group, Montrose (USA), Vol. 1, pp. 165- 166
-Gale Encyclopedia of Science, 3rd edition (December 2003), 6 volumes, Lerner, K. L., and B. W. Lerner (editors), Published by Thomson/Gale, v.2, pp.1219-1221

Diamond
By Yavor Shopov
Diamond is a mineral with the same carbon composition as graphite, but with different
structure.
Diamonds are a globally traded commodity used for a variety of industrial and artistic
purposes. In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously
adopted a resolution articulating the role of diamonds in fuelling international conflict
and dedicated to breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and
armed conflict. These "conflict diamonds" are facing increasing import-export trade
restrictions.
The atoms making up a mineral may be arranged either randomly, or in an orderly
pattern, ifas with diamondsa mineral's atoms show long-range organization, the
mineral is termed a crystalline mineral. The objects commonly called crystals are
crystalline minerals of relatively large size that happen to have developed smooth
faces. Diamonds are the hardest mineral (10 on the Mohs' scale), with the highest
refractive index of 2.417 among all transparent minerals, and has a high dispersion of
0.044. Diamonds are brittle. Under UV light, the diamond frequently
exhibits luminescence with different colors. It has a density of 3.52 g/cm
3
.
The mass of diamonds is measured in carats; 1 carat = 0.2 grams. Diamonds rarely
exceed 15 carats. Diamonds are insoluble in acids and alkalis, and may burn
in oxygen at high temperatures.
Nitrogen is the main impurity found in diamonds, and influences its physical
properties. Diamonds are divided into two types, with type I containing 0.0010.23%
nitrogen, and type II containing no nitrogen. If nitrogen exists as clusters in type I
diamonds, it does not affect the colorof the stone (type Ia), but if nitrogen substitutes
carbon in the crystal lattice, it causes a yellow color (Ib). Stones of type II may not
contain impurities (IIa), or may contain boron substituting carbon, producing a blue
color and semiconductivity of the diamond.
Diamonds form only at extremely high pressure (over 45000 atmospheres) and
temperatures over 2012F (1100C) from liquid ultrabasic magmas or peridotites.
Diamonds, therefore, form at great depths in the Earth's crust. They are delivered to the
surface by explosive volcanic phenomena with rapid cooling rates, which preserve the
diamonds from transformation. This process happens in kimberlites (a peridotitic type
of breccia), which constitutes the infill of diamond-bearing pipes. Also found with
diamonds are olivine, serpentine, carbonates, pyroxenes, pyrope garnet, magnetite,
hematite, graphite and ilmenite. Near the surface, kimberlite weathers, producing
yellow loose mass called yellow ground, while deeper in Earth, it changes to more dense
blue ground. Diamonds are extremely resistive to corrosion, so they can be fond in a
variety of secondary deposits where they arrived after several cycles of erosion and
sedimentation (alluvial diamond deposits, for example). Even in diamond-bearing rock,
the diamond concentration is 1 g in 830 tons of rock.
Most diamonds are used for technical purposes due to their hardness. Gem quality
diamonds are found in over 20 counties, mainly in Africa. The biggest diamond
producer is South Africa, followed by Russia. Usually, diamonds appear as isolated
octahedron crystals. Sometimes they may have rounded corners and slightly curved
faces. Microcrystalline diamonds with irregular or globular appearance are called Bort
(or boart), while carbonado are roughly octahedral, cubic or rhombic dodecahedral,
blackish, irregular microcrystalline aggregates. Both are valued for industrial
applications because they are not as brittle as diamond crystals. Frequently, diamonds
have inclusions of olivine, sulfides, chrome-diopside, chrome-spinels, zircon, rutile,
disthene, biotite, pyrope garnet and ilmenite. Transparent crystals are usually colorless,
but sometimes may have various yellowish tints. Rarely, diamonds may be bright yellow,
blue, pale green, pink, violet, and even reddish. Some diamonds are covered by
translucent skin with a stronger color. Diamonds become green and radioactive
after neutron irradiation, and yellow after further heating. They become blue after
irradiation with fast electrons. Diamonds have different hardnesses along their different
faces. Diamonds from different deposits also have different hardnesses. This quality
allows for the polishing of faceted diamonds by diamond powder.
Most diamond gems are faceted into brilliant cuts. Due to the high reflective index, all
light passing through the face of such facetted diamonds is reflected back from the back
facets, so light is not passing through the stone. This can be used as a diagnostic
property, because most simulants (except cubic zirconia) do not have this property.
Diamonds do have many simulants, including zircon, corundum, phenakite, tourmaline,
topaz, beryl, quartz, scheelite, sphalerite, and also synthetic gemstones such as cubic
zirconia, Yttrium-aluminum garnet, strontium titanate, rutile, spinel, and litium
niobate. Diamonds have high thermal conductivity, which allows it to be readily and
positively distinguished from all simulated gemstones. The most expensive diamonds
are those with perfect structure and absolutely colorless or slightly bluish-white color.
Yellow tint reduces the price of the diamond significantly. Bright colored diamonds are
extremely rare, and have exceptionally high prices.
In January 2003, a number of international concerns came to a preliminary consensus
on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to curtail international trade in what are
termed conflict diamonds.
As of early 2003, nearly 50 countries agreed to use and require standardized, tamper-
proof packaging and official certificates attesting to the source of the enclosed diamonds
when shipping rough uncut diamonds. Such controls are designed to stem illegal trade
in diamonds and to reduce the ability of despotic regimes to exploit diamond trade to
perpetuate their political and or military power (e.g., the protocols prohibit trade in
contraband diamonds from rebel sources in Sierra Leone). Without proper certification
many nations and industrial sources are agreed to import or purchase contraband
diamonds.
See also Mineralogy.
Resources
Books
Hart, Matthew. Diamond: A Journey to the Heart of an Obsession. New York: Walker &
Co., 2001.
Klein, Cornelis. Manual of Mineral Science. 22nd. ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons,
2001.
Schumann, Walter. Gemstones of the World. London: Sterling Publications, 2000.