UCSB Science Line UCSB Science Line What elements are in diamonds, gold, and rust? What is the scientific name for rust? Answer 1: Diamond is 100 % Carbon, atomic number 6 on the periodic table.Gold, symbol Au is atomic number 79 and is like diamond, a pure substance.Rust on the other hand is ferric oxide or Fe2O3. The mineral is called Hematite. It has a blood red streak. That is if you think you have some hematite, rub the mineral on an unglazed ceramic tile (called a streak plate) and the streak is blood red. Answer 2: The element in diamond is carbon (symbol C). Try and find C in the periodic table. Diamonds, particularly high quality ones, are very pure carbon. Sometimes however, small amounts of carbons neighbors in the periodic table, such as boron (symbol B), and Nitrogen (symbol N) are also found in diamond. These tend to give diamonds different colors. Gold is an element (symbol Au). The element symbol Au comes from the Latin word for gold which is aurum. Pure gold is usually only used to store money in banks.

In jewelry (which is the biggest use of gold) the gold is usually mixed with some copper (symbol Cu) to give it more strength. Rust is usually a mixture of iron (symbol Fe) oxygen (symbol O) and some hydrogen (symbol H). Most rust has the chemical formula FeO2H, also written as FeO (OH), and mineral name of this material is lepidocrocite (pronounced lay-pedo-kro-kite) Answer 3: First, gold is an element. It is very malleable and ductile. Since pure gold is fairly soft, it is often combined with other metals to make alloys to make it a little stronger. The alloys are what you typically find in jewelry, etc. Diamonds are made up of the element carbon. Also, graphite is also made up of carbon. The only difference between the two is the way that the atoms are bonded together. Interestingly, graphite is the more stable form of carbon, so diamonds will eventually turn into graphite (diamonds aren't really forever!). However, this process takes thousands of years. Rust is the common name for iron oxide, which as the name implies, is made up of the elements iron and oxygen.

The compound is Fe2O3. Iron combines quickly with oxygen, and the process of turning iron to iron oxide is an example of corrosion. You can see things like steel rust because steel contains iron. Answer 4: The quick answer is: Diamond is a pure element, carbon; gold is a pure element, gold; and rust is a compound, Iron Oxide, of iron and Oxygen. Diamond is pure elemental carbon, compressed to its crystal form, under extreme heat and pressure deep within the Earth. The symbol for carbon is C. Gold is also an element, in and of itself. Its symbol is Au. It does not easily form compounds so it is found by itself, in stream beds (placer deposits) or in veins in rocks. Rust is a compound: Iron Oxide. It is found all over; everywhere iron and oxygen come in contact! Both iron and oxygen form compounds quite easily, so they are not readily found alone. (The oxygen you breathe is O2, not elemental oxygen.) Rust can come in different forms, because iron (symbol Fe) normally gives up 2 or 3 electrons when it forms compounds.

We call these "oxidation states." When iron gives up 2 electrons, it gets a +2 charge, and when it gives up 3 electrons, it gets a +3 charge. To make a neutral compound it must then bond with some element in the proper ratio so as to remove its"excess" positive charge (or, replace its deficit negative charge). Oxygen (symbol O) normally takes 2 electrons when bonding with metals (including hydrogen). So, for a balanced compound of iron oxide, you have either FeO or Fe2O3. Here's what I mean: For FeO, you have one Fe(+2) and one O(-2) = FeO. This compound is also called Iron(II)Oxide. It is one form of rust. The charges balance like this:(+2) + (-2) = 2-2=0. The other form of rust, Fe2O3, is two Fe(+3) and three O(-2), written Fe2O3, and also called Iron(III)Oxide. The charges balance like this:2(+3) + 3(-2) = 6 - 6 = 0.

I hope this helps.Best wishes. Answer 5: Diamond is a polymorph of the element carbon (C). To give you an idea of the many uses of carbon, the macromolecules in our bodies, including DNA,proteins,sugars, and lipids, all contain carbon. Also, the soft lead in your pencil,graphite, is also made up of carbon.The element in gold is of course, gold (Au). The most pure form of gold jewelry as you probably know is 24 karats meaning no other elements are present within the stone. Common impurities in lower karat gold include silver (Ag), copper(Cu), and palladium (Pd). Rust is iron-oxide consisting of the elements iron and oxygen. When water touches an iron surface the water starts reacting with carbon dioxide in the air and forms carbonic acid, a weak acid. The presence of the acid causes the iron to dissolve. At the same time, the water starts breaking apart into oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen from the breakdown of water reacts with the dissolved iron forming iron oxide, rust.

Answer 6: GOLD Gold is an element, meaning that it consists only of one type of atom that cannot be chemically broken down into smaller parts. The only way to break gold down into smaller components would be through nuclear reactions that change the number of protons and electrons, the positively and negatively charged particles, inside the gold atoms. The element gold is denoted by the symbol Au in the Periodic Table of Elements. Gold is characterized by having79 protons and, in its elemental or uncharged state, also has 79 electrons. In its most common isotope, gold has 118 neutrons. Gold is typically found in nature in very small quantities mixed into a type of rock called ore, but can also be found in riverbed sediments. The extraction of gold from the earth is explained at the following websites: For more about gold in general:~eps2/wisc/gold.html DIAMONDS Diamonds are composed almost entirely of the element carbon, often with some other impurities in them, such as nitrogen (i.e., pure diamonds are entirely carbon). The element carbon comes in three different natural forms, or allotropes: diamond, graphite, and amorphous.

Although each of these forms is composed entirely of carbon, the carbon atoms are organized and bonded differently, creating unique properties for each. Diamonds are formed under extreme pressure and heat, 100-200 kilometers below the Earths surface, by bonding carbon into a three-dimensional crystal network. Diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to us. Graphite differs from diamonds in that the carbon atoms are bonded into flat sheets, creating a black, slippery substance that is one of the softest substances known to man. Graphite is what pencil lead is made out of. Amorphous carbon, otherwise known as soot, forms when a carbon-based material burns, or combusts, without enough oxygen to convert it completely to carbon dioxide. Carbon is characterized by having 6 protons and 6 electrons, and usually 6neutrons. This isotope of carbon is called carbon-12, with the number12referring to the atomic mass, or number of neutrons plus protons.

Carbon also exists in the isotope carbon-14, with 8 neutrons, but this form is unstable (a radioactive isotope) and decays into nitrogen-14 over time by releasing an electron and converting a neutron into a proton. For more information about carbon, see this web page: RUST Rust is a molecule that is composed of two elements: iron (Fe, atomic number26) and oxygen (O, atomic number 8). The chemical formula for rust is Fe2O3,which is called iron oxide, but is also known as ferric oxide or hematite,among other names. The word ferric refers to iron ions with a +3 charge (or with 23 electrons), whereas ferrous refers to iron ions with a +2 charge (or with 24 electrons). I think these words may have a Latin derivation, although I am not certain what their Latin meanings or root is. Rust forms when the oxygen in air or in water combines with iron, which is a major component of steel, for example.

Each oxygen atom essentially steals two electrons from the iron, forming oxygen atoms with a 2 charge (O-2 ions), while each iron atom donates three electrons to the oxygen, forming iron atoms with a+3 charge (Fe+3 ions, also known as ferric). Since the oxygen ions are negatively charged and the iron ions are positively charged, they attract and create an ionic bond that forms rust. This type of reaction is known as a reduction-oxidation reaction, or a red-ox reaction, where oxygen is said to be reduced (hence the reduction, or decrease, in oxygens electric charge) and the iron is said to be oxidized by the oxygen. The chemical equation for the formation of rust is: 4(Fe) + 3(O2) = 4(Fe+3) + 6(O-2) = 2 (Fe2O3) Click Here to return to the search form. Copyright © 2015 The Regents of the University of California, All Rights Reserved. What Elements Make Up Natural Diamonds? | eHow What Elements Make Up Natural Diamonds?

Ingram Publishing/Ingram Publishing/Getty Images Diamonds are among the most sought-after, and chemically simple, objects on the planet. They are used in many applications, from electronic devices to the edges of diamond blades. They can be naturally occurring or man-made, and they come in various sizes, shapes and colors. Natural diamonds are formed from the element carbon in a slow and ever-occurring geological process. Carbon Pure diamonds are pure carbon, although most diamonds contain some impurities. The graphite in lead pencils is also formed from carbon, and this versatile element, which is essential for living organisms on Earth, forms innumerable bonds with other elements. The formation of diamonds from raw carbon requires a great amount of heat and pressure. Suitable environments occur naturally deep beneath the earth in thick layers of crust known as cratons. In addition, very tiny diamonds have been found at meteor impact sites, where intense impact pressure and heat cause ideal conditions for a very short amount of time. Nitrogen Nitrogen can be present in diamonds in trace amounts as an impurity because nitrogen atoms are capable of replacing carbon atoms in the crystal lattice that gives diamonds their structure. The presence of nitrogen causes the diamonds to absorb blue light, making the stones appear yellow.

Nitrogen content is lower in diamonds that have been formed under higher pressure and for greater periods of time. Boron When boron is present in trace amounts, it's responsible for the blue-gray coloration of some diamonds. Diamonds with boron in them are known as Type 2-A diamonds. The presence of boron also enables these diamonds to behave as semiconductors -- diamonds are ordinarily electrical insulators. Boron nitride, a compound used in bulletproof vests, is nearly as hard as diamond, and is in fact more chemically stable. Hydrogen Type 1-A diamonds are high in hydrogen content. These diamonds also appear blue, like 2-B diamonds, but are electrical insulators rather than semiconductors. It is not certain whether the hydrogen is responsible for the color or not. The Argyle diamond mine, located in northern Australia, produces a large amount of type 1-A diamonds. What is the element diamonds are made from? | Reference.com What is the element diamonds are made from? A: Quick Answer Diamonds are made of highly organized carbon. Scientists speculate that diamonds originated from carbon dioxide atoms 100 miles below the Earth's surface more than a billion years ago.

The carbon dioxide was subject to extreme heat and pressure to form diamonds. Full Answer Carbon atoms bond together with four other carbon atoms to create an exceptionally strong bond in the presence of heat and pressure. The strength of this bond gives diamonds their unique hardness. Modern synthetic diamonds are created by subjecting carbon to intense heat and pressure over just a few days in a laboratory. These synthetic diamonds are less pure than natural diamonds, because the carbon used is mixed within a solution containing other elements. Diamond - Carbon Chemistry & Crystal Structure By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. The word 'diamond' derives from Greek adamao, meaning 'I tame' or 'I subdue' or the related word adamas, which means 'hardest steel' or 'hardest substance'. Everyone knows diamonds are hard and beautiful, but did you know a diamond could be the oldest material you might own? While the rock in which diamonds are found may be 50 to 1,600 million years old, the diamonds themselves are approximately 3.3 billion years old. This discrepancy is because the volcanic magma that solidifies into rock where diamonds are found did not create them, but only transported the diamonds from the Earth's mantle to the surface.

Diamonds also may be formed under the high pressures and temperatures at the site of meteorite impacts. The diamonds formed during an impact may be relatively 'young', but some meteorites contain star dust, debris from the death of a star, which may include diamond crystals. One such meteorite is known to contain tiny diamonds over 5 billion years old. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance These diamonds are older than our solar system! Start with Carbon Understanding the chemistry of a diamond requires a basic knowledge of the element carbon . A neutral carbon atom has 6 protons and 6 neutrons in its nucleus, balanced by 6 electrons. The electron shell configuration of carbon is 1s22s22p2. Carbon has a valence of 4, since 4 electrons can be accepted to fill the 2p orbital. Diamond is made up of repeating units of carbon atoms joined to four other carbon atoms via the strongest chemical linkage, covalent bonds . Each carbon atom is in a rigid tetrahedral network where it is equidistant from its neighboring carbon atoms. The structural unit of diamond consists of 8 atoms, fundamentally arranged in a cube.

This network is very stable and rigid, which is why diamonds are so very hard and have a high melting point. Virtually all carbon on Earth comes from the stars. Studying the isotopic ratio of the carbon in a diamond makes it possible to trace the history of the carbon. For example, at the earth's surface the ratio of isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-13 is slightly different from that of star dust. Also, certain biological processes actively sort carbon isotopes according to mass, so the isotopic ratio of carbon that has been in living things is different from that of the Earth or the stars. Thus it is known that the carbon for most natural diamonds comes most recently from the mantle, but the carbon for a few diamonds is recycled carbon of microorganisms, formed into diamonds by the earth's crust via plate tectonics. Some minute diamonds that are generated by meteorites are from carbon available at the site of impact; some diamond crystals within meteorites are still fresh from the stars. Crystal Structure The crystal structure of a diamond is a face-centered cubic or FCC lattice. Each carbon atom joins four other carbon atoms in regular tetrahedrons (triangular prisms).

Based on the cubic form and its highly symmetrical arrangement of atoms, diamond crystals can develop into several different shapes, known as 'crystal habits'. The most common crystal habit is the eight-sided octahedron or diamond shape. Diamond crystals can also form cubes, dodecahedra, and combinations of these shapes. Except for two shape classes, these structures are manifestations of the cubic crystal system. One exception is the flat form called a macle, which is really a composite crystal, and the other exception is the class of etched crystals, which have rounded surfaces and may have elongated shapes. Real diamond crystals don't have completely smooth faces, but may have raised or indented triangular growths called 'trigons'. Diamonds have perfect cleavage in four different directions, meaning a diamond will separate neatly along these directions rather than break in a jagged manner. The lines of cleavage result from the diamond crystal having fewer chemical bonds along the plane of its octahedral face than in other directions. Diamond cutters take advantage of lines of cleavage to facet gemstones. Graphite is only a few electron volts more stable than diamond, but the activation barrier for conversion requires almost as much energy as destroying the entire lattice and rebuilding it.

Therefore, once diamond is formed, it will not reconvert back to graphite because the barrier is too high. Diamonds are said to be metastable, since they are kinetically rather than thermodynamically stable. Under the high pressure and temperature conditions needed to form diamond its form is actually more stable than graphite, and so over millions of years carbonaceous deposits may slowly crystallize into diamond. | Diamond Buying Guide Diamond Buying Guide How Are Colored Diamonds Formed? Colored diamonds are found both in nature and in laboratory settings. According to the GIA, only one in 10,000 natural diamonds is a colored diamond outside the D-to-Z grading spectrum. Colored diamonds can be found in almost any shade of the rainbow. The GIA lists 27 different hues for natural colored diamonds. The variety of shades available has allowed jewelers to match color names with what’s in vogue, much like the fashion industry does when introducing “new” colors: champagne (brown), pumpkin (orange), canary (yellow), etc. Even a one-carat diamond requires billions of carbon atoms to bond, and all of those atoms must be carbon to create a colorless diamond.

The slightest quirk creates a colored diamond: a bit of boron makes a blue diamond; nitrogen makes a yellow diamond; natural radiation form nearby rocks trap electrons to create a green surface color; pink or red shades are thought to be due to changes to the electron structure during the voyage to the surface. Laboratories can create colored diamonds by mimicking the tricks nature plays. Laboratories can also perform color treatments on diamonds to enhance their color. A slightly yellow diamond needs a thin coat of blue to neutralize the yellow and give the perception of a higher color grade. Irradiation can turn a diamond more yellow, brown, blue, green, pink, or red. The GIA can issue color grades. It describes the color of fancy diamonds in three ways: pure spectral colors of the diamond (hue); lightness and darkness of the hue (tone); and the color’s strength and purity on a scale from neutral to vivid (saturation). Natural radiation and pressure can intensify the diamond’s color. Red Diamonds Red is the rarest diamond color and the most expensive diamond color. Red shades are thought to be due to changes to the electron structure during the diamond’s voyage to the surface. Orange Diamonds Nitrogen is suspected of being the modifier for orange diamonds.

Yellow Diamonds Yellow diamonds are very common, but the most vivid yellow diamonds are mined in South Africa. The yellow color comes from inclusion of nitrogen; nitrogen atoms are similar enough to carbon atoms that they easily take carbon’s place in the formation process. Throughout history, yellow diamonds that were not vivid enough to be called fancy yellow diamonds have been “enhanced” with blue coloring, in hopes of passing the diamonds as colorless. Green Diamonds Natural green diamonds are very rare, with an estimated less than ten coming to market each year. While some green diamonds have a trace amount of nickel mixed into their carbon, the coloration in most green diamonds is due to the natural radiation from nearby rocks, which traps electrons to create a green surface color. Since the colored portion is the outer layer, some of the natural green is lost during polishing. Blue Diamonds Boron is another element that is similar in size to carbon and can easily be found in trace amounts in a diamond. However, when boron is present and the level of nitrogen is very low, the boron gifts the diamond a blue color. Other blue diamonds are unrelated to boron; nickel or high concentrations of hydrogen are the hypothetical causes of blue color in some diamonds.

The most notable mine for blue diamonds is the Cullinan, in Pretoria, South Africa. Purple Diamonds Pure purple is the second rarest color of diamond. While there are several theories on why some diamonds exhibit a purple color, many scientists believe natural purple diamonds are formed due to post-growth plastic deformation while traveling from the earth’s mantle to its surface via magma. Natural purple diamonds account for 1% of the diamond mined in Siberia’s Mir kimberlite field. Most are only a pale purple, but some show a strong purple coloration. Professionals can tell a natural purple diamond from a treated purple diamond by examining the distribution of the color. Treated stones are saturated with color throughout; natural purple diamonds have a concentration of color along the deformation lamellae. Pink Diamonds Pink diamond shades are thought to be due to changes to the electron structure, called “plastic deformation” during the voyage to the surface. Pink diamonds are associated with the Argyle mine in northwestern Australia, which produces an estimated 90% of all natural pink diamonds in the world. However, pink diamonds have also been found in Brazil, Tanzania, and India. Grey Diamonds Trace elements such as boron in the carbon structure can create a grey diamond.

However, a grey diamond may also be a black diamond that is not thoroughly saturated. Brown Diamonds Structural defects in the diamond lattice give brown diamonds their color, as the defects absorb light. The presence of nitrogen can also give a diamond a brown hue. The terms "champagne diamond" (lightly tinted brown diamond) and "cognac diamond" (darker brown diamond) were coined to better promote these loose brown diamonds. Brown diamonds are found in Australia, Africa, and Siberia. Black Diamonds Contrary to how most colored diamonds are formed, a black diamond's color is not related to trace elements. Small inclusions of graphite and iron clusters create the “black” color. While other colored diamonds are transparent, the many inclusions in a black diamond means it is typically opaque. Black diamonds will not exhibit the fire and brilliance of a white diamond or transparent colored diamond. Since a black diamond necessarily has inclusions, it fractures more easily than some other gem-quality diamonds. They do not cleave as predictably as most diamonds. The difficulties involved with cutting and polishing black diamonds precludes many from becoming gem-quality, and most are declared industrial-use only. Black diamonds found in nature usually are not consistently black.

They may contain clear, white, or gray pieces. To enhance the black color, the diamonds are subject to high-pressure, high-temperature treatment (HPHT). This is meant to darken the lighter bits of the diamond. Other methods used include dyeing the diamond or irradiation. Perhaps this helps better define a black diamond ski slope, too. The snow may look white, but there can be hidden "inclusions" that make the path more difficult to navigate safely than other grades of ski slopes. © Diamond Price Guru, 2008—2009 Cochise College P Causes of Color in Diamonds and their Value Researchers believe that diamonds were formed two to three billion years ago when carbon bearing rocks deep beneath the earths surface, precisely a hundred feet or more, were put under immense pressure and heated up to about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. The pressure and heat caused the carbon molecules to dramatically rearrange. When the temperature reduces, if other conditions like pressure and chemistry are right, the carbon atoms in the melting crustal rock bond to build diamond crystals.

The formation of natural color diamonds is a process that requires the presence of not only the naturally occurring formula for all diamonds, but also the presence of additional trace elements and distortions to the typical diamond crystal. If an element interacts with the carbon atoms during diamond creation, the diamondï¿½s color can change. Radiation and pressure on a diamondï¿½s structure will also impact its color. The colors we see today may have many different shades but which ones are naturally colored and which ones are artificially colored is a hard question to answer. Several people will add artificial substances to a beautifully created natural substance in order to make more money but how they insert the material is a tricky task for most. Fancy colored diamonds are all the rage these days. Gemologists have developed new ways to create versions that are affordable for the average person by treating less desirable diamonds with irradiation followed by intense heat. This turns brown and yellowish diamonds into beautifully colored diamonds that you can afford. This procedure produces stunning pinks, blues, yellows, reds, purples and other colors. These colors are considered permanent, but there is a possibility they could change during repairs if a high heat is used.

Pink Diamonds Naturally colored pink diamonds are some of the rarest and most desired colored diamonds on earth. Chard Diamonds says ï¿½The Darya-I-Nor diamond is the largest pink diamond in the world at about 185 carats. Naturally colored pink diamonds are so rare that over half the jewelers on earth will never even see one, let alone own oneï¿½. The beauty and rarity of this particular diamond makes its price astronomical. Naturally colored pink diamonds can range in price anywhere from four million to four thousand dollars yet their formation is simply caused by an imperfection in the crystal lattice of the diamond. Synthetically enhanced pink diamonds are another story. They can be found in almost any jewelry store and are generally real diamonds but they have been treated to look pink. These diamonds can range from one hundred and fifty five to eighty nine dollars. Blue Diamonds Natural Blue Diamonds are also extremely rare but they are becoming steadily easier to find due to mining in new areas. These diamonds are formed when traces of boron are present during the diamondï¿½s creation.

Chard Diamonds says ï¿½The Hope diamond, which we have viewed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., is the most famous blue diamond in the world, and the largest at 45.52 carats.ï¿½ The Millennium Dome Diamond Robbery was an attempt to steal 12 large diamonds valued at a total of ï¿½200 million, an average of over ï¿½16 million each. Eleven out of the twelve diamonds were blue diamonds. The blue diamond has a wide range in color starting from a pale light blue to a beautiful deep almost navy blue. The most commonly found blue diamonds are a beautiful aquamarine. Synthetically enhanced blue diamonds in all color ranges can cost anywhere from four hundred to sixty five dollars. Yellow Diamonds Arknsas is famous for its yellow diamond mines, although, other colred diamonds have been uncovered in these mines as well. The naturally occuring yellow diamond is created by trace elements of nitrogen being infused during the diamondï¿½s formation. Most people believe that yellow diamonds are less desirable and valuable than white diamonds. While this is true of faintly colored or off-white diamonds, intensely colored diamonds are very attractive, rare and expensive.

The Kimberley Octahedron is the largest diamond in the world at about 616 carats, and it is yellow. Yellow diamonds are a beauty only a few people see but their price is just as big as the other colored diamonds. The price of a precious yellow diamond usually ranges anywhere from two hundred and ninety seven to Ninety-five thousand dollars. The synthetic yellow diamonds are rarely created because they are often undesirable unless they are of natural origin. When synthetic yellow diamonds are created, however, they can be as cheap as ten dollars or as expensive as one hundred dollars depending on the make and design. Red Diamonds Red diamonds are among the rarest jewels on earth. So rare, in fact, that not much is known about where they can be found or even the range of color shades that might exist. These diamonds are also thought to be created simply by an imperfection in the crystal lattice.

Chard diamonds says ï¿½The Moussaieff Red Diamond is a diamond measuring 5.11 carats (1.022 g) with a triangular brilliant cut (sometimes called a trillion or a brilliant cut), rated in color as Fancy Red by the Gemological Institute of America .ï¿½ While this may seem relatively small when compared to other famous diamonds, the Moussaieff Red is, in fact, the largest Fancy Red the GIA reports having rated. The Moussaieff Red is reported to have been found by a Brazilian farmer in the mid-1990s as a rough of approximately 11 carats (2.2 g). Natural red diamonds are the rarest and most expensive diamonds anyone can come across their prices are generally sky high costing anywhere from twenty thousand dollars to two point six million. Purple Diamonds Purple diamonds are yet another precious stone thousands of people desire. A purple diamond recently assessed by the British Gemological Institute has been estimated to be worth over ï¿½14 million, and to be the most valuable natural object in existence on a weight for weight basis. This stone weighs between four and five carats.

There is a larger purple diamond on display at a Paris museum, but its color is paler. Purple diamonds can be priced at a pretty penny of nine hundred thousand to forty six hundred dollars. Synthetic purple diamonds are of a somewhat lesser price ranging from ninety eight to forty six dollars. Color Grade Many experts name color as the number one consideration in choosing a diamond. A diamond's color is graded on an alphabetical scale from D-Z, with D being absolutely colorless and Z being light yellow. Beyond "Z", a diamond is considered to be an exotic or "Fancy" color. Since color differences can be so subtle, they are impossible to determine by the untrained eye. To grade a diamond, gemologists often place it on a white background next to another diamond that has been previously graded. How diamond is made - material, history, used, processing, parts, components, structure, industry, History Diamond Background The diamond is the hardest natural substance known. It is found in a type of igneous rock known as kimberlite. The diamond itself is essentially a chain of carbon atoms that have crystallized. The stone's unique hardness is a result of the densely concentrated nature of the carbon chains.

Like other igneous rocks, kimberlite was formed over the course of thousands of years by volcanic action that occurred during the formation of the earth's crust. Kimberlite is located inside these former spheres of volcanic activity—often near mountain ranges—in vertical shafts that extend deep inside the earth. Inside the kimberlite are intermittent deposits of diamonds, one of several minerals present. However, not all kimberlite contains diamond. Other stones often found with diamonds are mica, garnet, and zircon. Kimberlite may be blue-grey in hue—thus termed blue ground —or if exposed to air it may have a yellowish cast and is called yellow ground. History It is thought that diamonds were first discovered in Indiaabout 6,000 years ago in the riverbeds of the region. Traders were responsible for bringing the gems as far east as China and as far west as Rome during the classical and early medieval eras. The Chinese were the first to hamess the unusually tough nature of the gem and used it as a tool to cut other stones. Pliny the Elder, a Roman scholar, wrote about the diamond in the first century.

The word itself stems from the Greek term adamas which means "invincible" or "unconquerable." From the earliest days, the diamond has been imbued with mystery and superstition. Because they were so rare—at first found only in India—it became a commonly held superstition that the diamond lent its wearer special powers. They were worn in battle to insure victory and sometimes invoked as an antidote to poison. Other superstitions associated with the stone included the caveat that placing it in the mouth would bring on a loss of teeth. In other cases, finely ground diamond, made into a powder, was thought to be an effective poison. Indeed, experts agree that even in a pulverized form, the unique sharpness of the mineral would tear minuscule holes in the digestive tract. Because it is both the hardest and one of the rarest natural substances, diamonds have always fetched exceedingly high prices. The extreme value of the stone also made it a portable form of wealth in times of warfare and upheaval. The actual mining of diamonds as an industry can be traced back to India to around 800 to 600 B.C.

India was the only known source of the rocks for over a thousand years, until they were unearthed in Borneo around A.D. 600. During the Middle Ages, the diamond was overshadowed by some of the more colorful gems like the ruby and emerald. These other stones found their way into the jewelry of the rich and powerful of Europe more easily than the diamond. Additionally, gem-cutting techniques had not yet been developed to unleash the brilliance of the stone. Diamonds were usually left in their natural state or shaped by a rudimentary cut. In the 17th century, how-ever, a Venetian lapidary named Vincenzo Peruzzi developed the so-called brilliant cut. This cut revealed the intricacies and the natural perfection of the stone. Diamond is found in a type of igneous rock known as kimberlite. Like other igneous rocks, kimberlite was formed over the course of thousands of years by volcanic action that occurred during the formation of the earth's crust. Inside the kimberlite are intermittent deposits of diamonds, one of several minerals present. In the 18th century, diamond deposits were discovered in Brazil in small quantities, and later in Australia, Russia, and the United States.

Brazilian gems were first taken to India and shipped to Europe as Indian diamonds, since people considered non-Indian gems less valuable. In the 20th century, an American mine near Murfreesboro, Arkansas, was open for novelty public mining for a small fee. High-quality diamonds have been found in Siberia, but the extremely cold temperature has made large-scale mining unfeasible. In 1866 the world's largest cache of diamonds was discovered in South Africa. Some children had found a rock and brought it home, and a curious neighbor passed it on to a trader, who gave it to a geologist. It was discovered to be a diamond of enormous size and worth a small fortune. South Africa soon experienced a diamond rush, and shanty towns sprang up with the influx of prospectors. Eventually, the various mines and mine companies of the region were consolidated under the control of the DeBeers organization. With the DeBeers Consolidated Mines, Ltd., a Central Selling Organization, and a Diamond Trading Company, this conglomerate controls about 80% of the world's diamond output. Contemporary diamond mining is centered at Kimberley, South Africa, and carried out by DeBeers.

Every six weeks or so, representatives of the DeBeers Diamond Trading Company invite a special list of diamond wholesalers—less than a hundred world-wide—to London to view preselected lots of the gem. This is the only method by which South African DeBeers diamonds come onto the market. Industrical Applications In modern times diamonds have become indispensable to industry. Automobile magnate Henry Ford was the first to uncover the contemporary industrial uses of the stone. He sponsored research into its applications for the manufacturing sector, especially as a low-cost abrasive, and the Detroit area became a hub for dealers of diamond tools. The aircraft industry followed the lead of the automotive sector, becoming an avid user of diamond-based products. Diamonds used for industrial applications are usually of a lower grade than those found in the gemstone market, but they retain the same properties of hardness and durability. Diamond tools last much longer than those made from other sources and offer a nearly unmatched precision in cutting other substances. Additionally, such tools work faster and much more quietly than other alternatives. Tools made from industrial diamonds are used in the mirror and optical manufacturing fields as well as in gas and oil drilling endeavors. In the textile industry, devices made from diamonds are used to cut patterns.

In medicine, cutting instruments made from diamonds are used to cleanly slice bone and tissue. The construction industry uses diamond tools in the grinding and cutting of concrete and pavement. Diamonds are also used to make needles for stereo record players. Physical Characteristics Diamonds are chains of carbon. Carbon is one of the most common substances on the planet. In one form it is simple graphite, used in pencils, but in its crystallized form, it takes an altogether different appearance as diamond. On the scale used by mineralogists to measure the hardness of minerals, diamonds rate ten on a scale of one to ten. Diamonds are measured in carats, the standard unit of measurement for gemstones. One carat is roughly equal to one-fifth of a gram. The carat can be further divided into points based on a scale of 100. One of the reasons diamonds are so prized is because the light they absorb is reflected directly back outward, if the stone has been properly cut. The unusual crystal structure of the gem allows this high degree of refractability. Because of their structure, diamonds are also excellent conductors of electrical current. Structurally, the diamond can be described as an octahedron.

This means that there are double four-sided pyramids of carbon chains inside that meet one another at the bases. Cubes or dodacahedrons—a twelvesided shape—are also found within the stone. Sometimes small triangular pockets called trigons can be observed. Diamonds are found in nature in a variety of hues. Colorless or white diamonds are the most common, while some tinted stones are rare and valuable. The shades may be yellow, blue, pink, green, or amber. In South Africa it is common to see orange diamonds as jewelry, but this is a custom that has not made its way into the rest of the world. Some of the world's most famous diamonds are the colored ones—the heavy Dresden Green, for instance, and the infamous Hope Diamond. The latter, blue in color, is thought to hold certain negative energy, and many unexplained deaths have been associated with its owners. It is now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Extraction and Refining Diamonds are mined either from the kimberlite pipes below the earth's surface, or from alluvial deposits.

Alluvial (riverbed) deposits occurred when volcanic action carried kimberlite and other minerals from the center of activity to naturally forming irrigation systems. Such diamonds are found quite near the earth's surface. In alluvial mining, considerable amounts of sand must first be removed from the area. The sand and other such components are called over-burden, and large mechanical scrapers are used to move it out of the way. Underneath the overburden lies a gravel bed, and bulldozers scoop the gravel up and set it aside in piles. The piles are then taken to a screening plant, where the diamonds are extracted. In alluvial mining, it is sometimes necessary to reach the bedrock underneath the gravel bed—or sometimes even below the bedrock itself—in order to unearth the diamond deposits. The bedrock must be thoroughly searched. Sometimes an enormous vacuum device called a Vacuveyer is used for this purpose. As the mining process moves along in a horizontal fashion, the removed overburden is again deposited to fill over the excavated sites. Below-ground mining of kimberlite for diamond also requires moving enormous quantities of rock and other material in order to unearth gems, but on a much larger scale than alluvial mining.

For one part diamond uncovered, it is estimated that 15 to 30 million parts waste must be moved out of the way. Unlike mining endeavors for gold or other substances, engineers cannot determine beforehand whether an area has a large abundance of diamond. Mining 1 Block caving is the most commonly used method in excavating diamonds from kimberlite deposits. This method offers the highest yield and thus is the most cost effective. First, a large vertical hole is excavated, typically 1,750 feet (533 m) in diameter. Levels are placed approximately every 40 feet (12 m). Along these levels are horizontal tunnels known as scraper drifts. In the drifts, there are small inclined coneshaped openings at intervals of every 11 feet (3 m) or so. These openings are roughly four feet by four feet. When a horizontal slice is cut above the cones—usually about six feet (1.8 m) in height—the kimberlite begins to break off and fall into the cone and into the scraper drift. The material is then pushed onto trucks. The trucks travel underground through the mining area and take the collected kimberlite to a crushing device.

Crushing 2 In the crushing operation, which occurs in the below-ground mining facilities, large chunks of kimberlite are broken up into more easily transportable segments. After an initial crushing, the kimberlite passes through a grizzly, or a set of iron bars. If the crushed chunks do not pass through the grizzly, they are still too large, and they are sent back for further crushing. The crushed kimberlite is then taken above the surface for further processing. When no more kimberlite is found entering the cones, the area is depleted and work moves on to a lower level. Separating 3 The actual diamonds must be separated from the rock that surrounds them. Crushing or milling the excavated material is the first step, but this is done in a rudimentary form so as not to damage the potential gems inside. Next, a gravity-based device is used to sort the diamond-containing portions—called the concentrate—from the tailings, or the filler rock. One of the most commonly used methods to separate the two is a type of washing pan developed in South Africa in the 1870s. Decomposed kimberlite and water—in a mixture known as a puddle—is put into the pan.

The mixture's viscosity is a crucial element, because the lighter particles will rise to the top, but the diamonds and other heavy minerals will descend to the bottom of the pan. Another method of uncovering diamonds uses media separators. A stew called a slurry is made up—typically consisting of water added to the crushed concentrate and tailings. Ferro-silicon powder, which has a heavy density, is also added. The slurry may be put into one of three types of media separators. The first is a cone-shaped tank, with a cone-shaped agitating element inside. The agitator moves around the sides of the tank, but leaves enough room so that the lighter tailings can rise to the top and the heavier elements sink to the bottom. In a lifting-wheel type of media separator, a wheel is filled halfway with slurry. Paddles inside it agitate the mixture, and lift the heavy particles from the bottom and separate them from the rest of the mixture. The third type of media separator is known as a hydrocyclone. It is a large vat that spins around, and through centrifugal force, the heavier, diamond-rich particles are separated.

Greasing 4 After this rudimentary separation, the concentrate moves to a greasing area, another innovation in diamond manufacturing developed in South Africa in the late 19th century. Mixed with water, the kimberlite-and-diamond mixture is placed on a greased belt or table. This device is usually slanted and vibrated. The method operates on the premise that diamonds newly excavated will not become wet when brought into contact with water. Instead they will stick to the grease. Petroleum jelly is usually the preferred substance on the grease belt or table. The water then carries away the remaining non-diamond particles. The diamond-laden concentrate is then swept off the table and boiled to remove the traces of grease. In a newer method, X-ray technology is used to determine which of the concentrate is diamond and which is effluvial material. Cutting 5 Chunks of diamond eventually become small, perfectly shaped gemstones commonly used in engagement rings and other jewelry. Since diamond is the hardest known substance, diamond dust must be used to cut the stone. In cutting, a minuscule groove is incised into the surface of the diamond, and a cleaving iron is inserted into the groove.

With a quick, forceful blow, the diamond should split perfectly along its naturally occurring planes. The lapidary determines further cuts by marking them off on the surface with ink. Next, a diamond saw, oiled with the unusual combination of diamond dust and olive oil, is rotated vertically on the surface of the raw gem. This device divides the diamond into new segments. These parts are then fed into a lathe-like device for grinding. The Future Diamonds are a finite resource. The fate of Indian diamonds is a good example of what the future might hold for the South African diamond-mining industry. From the first discovery of the gems in India until relatively recently, it is thought that over 12 million carats originated from India. By the mid-20th century, the resources were nearly depleted, and India was producing only about 100 carats annually. Diamonds will continue to be used in industry and high-technology enterprises, but synthetically produced facsimiles—first manufactured in 1953—may accomplish some of the tasks originally the exclusive province of the real stone.

These "manufactured" gems have the same properties of hardness and durability, and while they will never be as popular as the real diamond for adomment purposes, they are well suited for industrial applications. Where To Learn More DIAMOND (Carbon) Diamond - the April Birthstone To see our natural diamond specimens, see the diamond specimens pages. Diamond is the ultimate gemstone, having few weaknesses and many strengths. It is well known that Diamond is the hardest substance found in nature, but few people realize that Diamond is four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum (sapphire and ruby). But even as hard as it is, it is not impervious. Diamond has four directions of cleavage, meaning that if it receives a sharp blow in one of these directions it can cleave, or split. A skilled diamond setter and/or jeweler will prevent any of these directions from being in a position to be struck while mounted in a jewelry piece. As a gemstone , Diamond's single flaw (perfect cleavage) is far outdistanced by the sum of its positive qualities.

It has a broad color range, high refraction, high dispersion (fire), very low reactivity to chemicals, rarity, and of course, extreme hardness and durability. Diamond is the April Birthstone . In terms of it's physical properties, diamond is the ultimate mineral in several ways: Hardness: Diamond is a perfect "10", defining the top of the hardness scale, and by absolute measures four times harder than sapphire (which is #9 on that scale). Clarity: Diamond is transparent over a larger range of wavelengths (from the ultraviolet into the far infrared) than is any other solid or liquid substance - nothing else even comes close. Thermal Conductivity: Diamond conducts heat better than anything - five times better than the second best element, Silver! Melting Point: Diamond has the highest melting point (3820 degrees Kelvin) Lattice Density: The atoms of Diamond are packed closer together than are the atoms of any other substance Tensile Strength: Diamond has the highest tensile strength of any material, at 2.8 gigapascals. However, that does not quite translate into the strongest rope or cable, as diamond has cleavage planes which support crack propagation.

The strongest ropes can likely be made from another carbon material, carbon nanotubes, as they should not suffer from the effects of cracks and break. Still, if a long, thin, perfect crystal of diamond could be manufactured, it would offer the highest possible pulling strength (in a straight line - don't try to tie it in a knot!) Compressive Strength: Diamond was once thought to be the material most resistant to compression (the least compressible). It is the material that scientists use to create the greatest pressures when testing matter. However, the rare metal Osmium has recently been shown to be even less compressible (although it is not as hard as diamond). Diamond has a bulk modulus (reciprocal of compressibility) of 443 GigaPascals (GPa). The bulk modulus of the metal osmium has recently been found to be 476 GPa, about 7% greater than diamond. Diamond is a polymorph of the element carbon. Graphite is another polymorph. The two share the same chemistry, carbon, but have very different structures and properties. Diamond is hard, Graphite is soft (the "lead" of a pencil).

Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. Diamond is the ultimate abrasive, Graphite is a very good lubricant. Diamond is transparent, Graphite is opaque. Diamond crystallizes in the Isometric system and graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system. Somewhat of a surprise is that at surface temperatures and pressures, Graphite is the stable form of carbon. In fact, all diamonds at or near the surface of the Earth are currently undergoing a transformation into Graphite. This reaction, fortunately, is extremely slow. Other polymorphs of carbon include: carbon nanotubes Diamond Description GemKids Diamond Description However gem quality diamonds are fashioned from the original crystal shape they possess a combination of brightness, sparkle, fire, and sense of purity not matched by other gems. - Jeff Scovil, courtesy Barker & Co. Diamond’s characteristic chemical composition and crystal structure make it a unique member of the mineral kingdom. Diamond is the only gem made of a single element: It is typically about 99.95 percent carbon. The other 0.05 percent can include one or more trace elements, which are atoms that aren’t part of the diamond’s essential chemistry. Some trace elements can influence its color or crystal shape.

Whether fashioned or rough, and no matter what their shape, all diamonds have the same chemical composition and internal crystal structure. The way a mineral forms helps determine its identity. Diamond forms under high temperature and pressure conditions that exist only within a specific depth range (about 100 miles) beneath the earth’s surface. Diamond’s crystal structure is isometric, which means the carbon atoms are bonded in essentially the same way in all directions. Another mineral, graphite, also contains only carbon, but its formation process and crystal structure are very different. The result is that graphite is so soft that you can write with it, while diamond is so hard that you can only scratch it with another diamond. The most common shape for rough gem quality diamond is the octahedron, which looks like two pyramids back to back. Crystals that are almost perfect in shape and transparency are called glassies. Without any one of these factors, diamond might be just another mineral. Fortunately, though, this special combination of chemical composition, crystal structure, and formation process gives diamonds the qualities that make them extraordinary. This diamond is a D color grade and has exceptional chemical purity.

- Courtesy Lazare Kaplan Diamonds On almost all modern birthstone lists, diamond is recognized today as the birthstone for April. Diamond is also the gem that marks the 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries. Diamond’s unique optical and physical properties give it the highest possible luster of any transparent gemstone. This is called adamantine luster after the Greek word Adamas meaning diamond-like. - Courtesy Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co. Learn More About Diamond How can graphite and diamond be so different if they are both composed of pure carbon? - Scientific American Scientific American How can graphite and diamond be so different if they are both composed of pure carbon? Share on Facebook Report Ad Miriam Rossi, a professor of chemistry at Vassar College, provides the following explanation: Both diamond and graphite are made entirely out of carbon, as is the more recently discovered buckminsterfullerene (a discrete soccer-ball-shaped molecule containing carbon 60 atoms). The way the carbon atoms are arranged in space, however, is different for the three materials, making them allotropes of carbon. The differing properties of carbon and diamond arise from their distinct crystal structures. In a diamond, the carbon atoms are arranged tetrahedrally.

Each carbon atom is attached to four other carbon atoms 1.544 x 10-10 meter away with a C-C-C bond angle of 109.5 degrees. It is a strong, rigid three-dimensional structure that results in an infinite network of atoms. This accounts for diamond's hardness, extraordinary strength and durability and gives diamond a higher density than graphite (3.514 grams per cubic centimeter). Because of its tetrahedral structure, diamond also shows a great resistance to compression. The hardness of a crystal is measured on a scale, devised by Friederich Mohs, which ranks compounds according to their ability to scratch one another. Diamond will scratch all other materials and is the hardest material known (designated as 10 on the Mohs scale). It is the best conductor of heat that we know, conducting up to five times the amount that copper does. Diamond also conducts sound, but not electricity; it is an insulator, and its electrical resistance, optical transmissivity and chemical inertness are correspondingly remarkable. Moreover, diamonds disperse light. This means that the refractive indices for red and violet light are different (2.409 and 2.465, respectively).

As a result, the gemstone acts like a prism to separate white light into rainbow colors, and its dispersion is 0.056 (the difference). The greater the dispersion, the better the spectrum of colors that is obtained. This property gives rise to the "fire" of diamonds. The "brilliance" of diamonds stems from a combination of refraction, internal reflection and dispersion of light. For yellow light, for example, diamond has a high refractive index, 2.4, and a low critical angle of 24.5 degrees. This means that when yellow light passes into a diamond and hits a second face internally at an angle greater than 24.5 degrees, it cannot pass from the crystal into the outside air but instead gets reflected back to the inside of the gemstone. The carbon atoms in graphite are also arranged in an infinite array, but they are layered. These atoms have two types of interactions with one another. In the first, each carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon atoms and arranged at the corners of a network of regular hexagons with a 120-degree C-C-C bond angle.

These planar arrangements extend in two dimensions to form a horizontal, hexagonal "chicken-wire" array. In addition, these planar arrays are held together by weaker forces known as stacking interactions. The distance between two layers is longer (3.347 x 10-10 meter) than the distance between carbon atoms within each layer (1.418 x 10-10 meter). This three-dimensional structure accounts for the physical properties of graphite. Unlike diamond, graphite can be used as a lubricant or in pencils because the layers cleave readily. It is soft and slippery, and its hardness is less than one on the Mohs scale. Graphite also has a lower density (2.266 grams per cubic centimeter) than diamond. The planar structure of graphite allows electrons to move easily within the planes. This permits graphite to conduct electricity and heat as well as absorb light and, unlike diamond, appear black in color. Answer originally posted May 20, 2002.

Question: What element are diamonds made of?
Answer: Carbon