Diamonds are a very special type of gem that is formed deep below the Earth over the course of many years. Their beauty has long been revered by humans for many hundreds of years and they are also used in industrial settings.They are made from a type of carbon and are considered top be an allotrope of carbon. Allotropy refers to an element that is within the same phase, but is in a different form. In other words an allotrope is a different form of the same element. The reason you say that diamonds are an allotrope of carbon is that they are still carbon, but in a different form.
Diamonds are well known for their strength and resilience. They were used in ancient times as religious icons and have long been used in hand tools and engraving. It requires a lot of pressure to form a diamond. Usually they are formed at depths of between 90 and 120 miles, but some have been found as deep as 250 miles. By the time a diamond has formed and has been shifted high enough to be excavated by man, it is likely that it is at least 1 billion years old. Often they are brought to the surface during a volcanic eruption.
A company called De Beers is in control of a large percentage of the diamonds available and they have their base out of Johannesburg, South Africa. Almost half of all diamonds are mined in Africa. Some rather large discoveries have been made in Canada, India, and Russia as well. Recently another find has been found in Australia that is very significant.
Diamonds are said to be a girl’s best friend, but they are much more than that. They are also the best friend of many tool makers and users. Industrial diamonds are used for grinding, drilling, cutting, and more. Due to their incredible strength, they are frequently used on the tip of a drill or in saw blades.
Tags: diamonds, dimaond, dimaond stud earrings, gem, gems, gemstone, gemstones, jewerly
