The Means Of Diamonds
In mineralogy, diamond (the ancient Greek Adamas, which means “self” or “unchanged”) is the allotrope of carbon where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the crystal structure of the face-centered cubic diamond network called. Diamond is the second most stable form of carbon after graphite, however, the rate of conversion of diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions. Diamond has specifically renowned as a material with superlative physical characteristics, many of which derive from the strong covalent bonding between atoms. In particular, diamond has the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of all common materials. These properties determine the main industrial application of diamond is in cutting tools and grinding.
Diamond has outstanding optical properties. Because its crystal structure extremely rigid, may be contaminated by a few types of impurities such as boron and nitrogen. Combined with its high transparency (corresponding to a wide band gap of 5.5 eV), this results in a clear and colorless appearance of most natural diamonds. Small amounts of defects or impurities (about one part per million) induce a blue color diamond (boron), yellow (nitrogen), brown (crystal defects), green, purple, pink, orange or red. Diamond also has a relatively high refractive dispersion, ie, ability to disperse light of different colors, resulting in its characteristic luster. Their excellent optical and mechanical properties, combined with effective marketing, make the diamond is the most popular gem.
Most natural diamonds are formed at high pressure conditions and high temperature existing at depths of 140 km to 190 km in the mantle. Carbon-containing minerals provide the carbon source and growth occurs in periods of 1 to 3.3 billion years, which corresponds to approximately 25% to 75% of the age of the Earth. Diamonds are brought near the surface of the earth through deep volcanic eruptions for a magma, which cools into igneous rocks known as kimberlites and lamproites. Diamonds can also be produced synthetically in a process of high pressure and high temperature to simulate approximately the conditions in the Earth’s mantle. An alternative and completely different technique is chemical vapor deposition. Some materials other than diamond, including cubic zirconia and silicon carbide are often referred to as diamond simulants, resembling the diamond in appearance and many properties. We have developed techniques for distinguishing special gem synthetics and natural diamonds and diamond simulants.
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