What is Diamond?
Diamond is a colourless exceptionally hard mineral (but often tinted yellow, orange, blue, brown, or black by impurities), found in certain igneous rocks esp. the kimberlites of South Africa. It is used as a gemstone, as an abrasive, and on the working edges of cutting tools. Composition: carbon. Formula: C. Crystal structure: cubic. Name derived from the Greek adamas meaning invincible. Relative density 3.50- 3.52. Cleavage eminent along octahedral faces. Fracture conchoidal. Tenacity brittle. Lustre brilliantly adamantine. Refractive index 2.417- 2.419. Birefringence and pleochroism: none (cubic). Dispersion strong 0.044. Diamond crystals form as cubes, octahedra , the most common gem form, and dodecahedra. Colourless to yellow diamonds which have a strong absorbtion line in the violet end of the spectrum are members of the Cape series.
Where is it found?
The most famous diamond bearing country is South Africa. The first diamond was reported in 1866. By 1869 an 83.5 carat diamond had been found and was named The Star of Africa. It was subsequently cut into a pear shape brilliant weighing 47.74 carats. The Golconda area of Southern India has been the source of some Argyle Mine North Western Australiafamous diamonds such as the Koh-i-nor (mountain of light 186cts cut to 108.92 cts and now in the Tower of London) and Jehangir. Diamond is widespread in Brazil, most stones being small but of good gem quality. Alluvial diamonds have been found in most states of the USA. White and fancy coloured diamonds such as pinks and pinkish browns are mined at Argyle in North Western Australia. Other important producers are Russia, now the fourth largest producer, and China.
Blog Archive
-
▼
2006
(509)
-
▼
November
(509)
-
▼
Nov 19
(43)
- What is Hypnosis?
- What is Art Therapy?
- What is Aromatherapy?
- what is alpha waves?
- what is allopathy ?
- what is Alexander Technique ?
- What is ADD?
- What is Acupressure?
- What is a Colonoscopy?
- What is colour blindness ?
- No title
- What is counselling ?
- What is acupuncture ?
- what is colour therapy ?
- What is Kabbalah?
- What is Spirituality?
- What is homeopathy?
- What is feng shui ?
- What is vastushastra ?
- What is Ayurveda?
- What is Platinum Jewelry?
- What is Diamond?
- what is gold ?
- what is dreams ?
- what is chakras ?
- what is crystal healing ?
- What is reiki ?
- what is aura ?
- What is MANTRA ?
- what is kriya yoga ?
- What is kundalini yoga ?
- What is hatha yoga ?
- What is laya yoga ?
- what is mantras yoga ?
- What is raja yoga ?
- What is jnana yoga ?
- What is bhakti yoga ?
- What is tantra yoga ?
- what is Karma Yoga in the Gita ?
- What is karma in buddhism ?
- What is karma in Hinduism?
- What is tarot ?
- What is Gemstone Therapy?
-
▼
Nov 19
(43)
-
▼
November
(509)
Mr.Shashi kiran
- skiranks
- bangalore, India