Diamond
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Diamond
Formula:
C
As a Commodity:
Colour:
Colourless, yellowish to yellow, brown, black, blue, green or red, pink, champagne-tan, cognac-brown, lilac (very rare)
Lustre:
Adamantine, Greasy
Hardness:
10
Specific Gravity:
3.5 - 3.53
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
From Greek "adamas", 'invincible'. First known use by Manlius (A.D. 16) and Pliny (A.D. 100).
Polymorph of:
Diamond is the hardest natural substance known. It is formed deep in the mantle and is only brought to the surface via kimberlite pipes, lamprophyres, eclogites and other rocks that originate deep within the mantle. It is also found in alluvial deposits, along with quartz, corundum, zircon and other minerals, derived from such rocks, and in certain meteorites.
The formation processes of the variety carbonado are unclear.
The ballas variety is spherical in shape and has a number of modes of formation (Pavlushin et al. 2021).
The coexistence of diamond and carbonate minerals in mantle eclogites is explained by the reaction: dolomite + 2(coesite) -> <- diopside + 2(diamond) + 2O2 (Luth, 1993).
Micro- and nanodiamonds in ureilites are shown to be formed due to impact shock phenomena taking place on some small planetesimals.
The formation processes of the variety carbonado are unclear.
The ballas variety is spherical in shape and has a number of modes of formation (Pavlushin et al. 2021).
The coexistence of diamond and carbonate minerals in mantle eclogites is explained by the reaction: dolomite + 2(coesite) -> <- diopside + 2(diamond) + 2O2 (Luth, 1993).
Micro- and nanodiamonds in ureilites are shown to be formed due to impact shock phenomena taking place on some small planetesimals.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Diamond.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1282
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1282:5
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
2a05bcc6-728d-4fed-bec1-93746fd26b90
IMA Classification of Diamond
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Diamond
1.CB.10a
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
C : Metalloids and Nonmetals
B : Carbon-silicon family
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
C : Metalloids and Nonmetals
B : Carbon-silicon family
Dana 7th ed.:
1.3.5.1
1.3.6.1
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
3 : Semi-metals and non-metals
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
3 : Semi-metals and non-metals
1.24
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Dia | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Dia | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
Dmd | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Diamond
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Diamond
Adamantine, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Colourless, yellowish to yellow, brown, black, blue, green or red, pink, champagne-tan, cognac-brown, lilac (very rare)
Comment:
Eaton-Magaña, S., Ardon, T., Smit, K. V., Breeding, C. M., & Shigley, J. E. (2018). Natural-color Pink, Purple, Red, and Brown Diamonds: Band of Many Colors. Gems & Gemology, 54(4).
Streak:
none
Hardness:
10 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Mohs hardness reference species
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect octahedral {111}
Perfect octahedral {111}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.5 - 3.53 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.515 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Diamond
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 2.4354
Birefringence:
Strain birefringence common (Raman and Rendall, 1944; Lang 1967; Howell, 2012).
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
Strong
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
n = 2.4354 (486), 2.4175 (589), 2.4076 (687)
Chemistry of Diamond
Mindat Formula:
C
Elements listed:
CAS Registry number:
Crystallography of Diamond
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Fd3m
Setting:
Fd3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.5595 Å
Unit Cell V:
45.10 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Octahedral crystals, also dodecahedrons, cubes, tetrahedral. Often has curved faces.
Twinning:
macle is a spinel twin {111}
Crystallographic forms of Diamond
Crystal Atlas:
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0011242 | Diamond | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 7-83 | 1963 | 0 | 293 | ||
0012842 | Diamond | Hom T, Kiszenick W, Post B (1975) Accurate lattice constants from multiple reflection mesurements II. lattice constants of germanium, silicon and diamond Journal of Applied Crystallography 8 457-458 | 1975 | unknown | 0 | 298 | |
0013983 | Diamond | Fayos J (1999) Possible 3D carbon structures as progressive intermediates in graphite to diamond phase transition Journal of Solid State Chemistry 148 278-285 | 1999 | 0 | 293 | ||
0013984 | Diamond | Fayos J (1999) Possible 3D carbon structures as progressive intermediates in graphite to diamond phase transition Journal of Solid State Chemistry 148 278-285 | 1999 | 0 | 293 | ||
0013985 | Diamond | Fayos J (1999) Possible 3D carbon structures as progressive intermediates in graphite to diamond phase transition Journal of Solid State Chemistry 148 278-285 | 1999 | 0 | 293 | ||
0013986 | Diamond | Fayos J (1999) Possible 3D carbon structures as progressive intermediates in graphite to diamond phase transition Journal of Solid State Chemistry 148 278-285 | 1999 | 0 | 293 | ||
0013987 | Diamond | Fayos J (1999) Possible 3D carbon structures as progressive intermediates in graphite to diamond phase transition VDW terms Journal of Solid State Chemistry 148 278-285 | 1999 | 0 | 293 | ||
0013991 | Diamond | Fayos J (1999) Possible 3D carbon structures as progressive intermediates in graphite to diamond phase transition Journal of Solid State Chemistry 148 278-285 | 1999 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014081 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 283 | |
0014082 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0014083 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 303 | |
0014084 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 313 | |
0014085 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 323 | |
0014086 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 283 | |
0014087 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0014088 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 303 | |
0014089 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 313 | |
0014090 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 323 | |
0014091 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 283 | |
0014092 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0014093 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 303 | |
0014094 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 313 | |
0014095 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 323 | |
0014096 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 283 | |
0014097 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0014098 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 303 | |
0014099 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 313 | |
0014100 | Diamond | Straumanis M E, Aka E Z (1951) Precision determination of lattice parameter, coefficient of thermal expansion and atomic weight of carbon in diamond Journal of the American Chemical Society 73 5643-5646 | 1951 | Belgian Congo | 0 | 323 | |
0014673 | Diamond | Riley D P (1944) Lattice constant of diamond and the C-C single bond Nature 153 587-588 | 1944 | commercial diamond dust sieved to obtain small crystals | 0 | 291 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
2.06 Å | (100) |
1.261 Å | (25) |
1.0754 Å | (16) |
0.8182 Å | (16) |
0.8916 Å | (8) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Pre-terrestrial "Ur-minerals" | >4.57 |
1 : Stellar atmosphere condensates | |
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
Near-surface Processes | |
26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
30 : Terrestrial impact minerals | |
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
38 : Ophiolites |
Geological Setting:
Deep mantle-derived rocks such as kimberlites, lamprophyres, and others. With decreasing pressure, the diamonds dissolve back into the rock. To occur and survive in a metastable state at the surface they must arrive from depth quickly and very often crystals show dissolution features because the transport to the surface is not quick enough.
Since diamond is extremely hard, it survives in alluvia.
Since diamond is extremely hard, it survives in alluvia.
Synonyms of Diamond
Other Language Names for Diamond
Afrikaans:Diamant
Arabic:ألماس
Armenian:Ադամանդ
Basque:Diamante
Belarusian:Алмаз
Belarusian (Tarashkevitsa):Алмаз
Bishnupriya Manipuri:ডিয়ামান্টে
Bosnian:Dijamant
Bulgarian:Диамант
Catalan:Diamant
Croatian:Dijamant
Czech:Diamant
Danish:Diamant
Dutch:Diamant
Esperanto:Diamanto
Estonian:Teemant
Faroese:Diamantar
Farsi/Persian:الماس
Finnish:Timantti
French:Diamant
Galician:Diamante
Georgian:ბრილიანტი
German:Diamant
Ademant
Oesterreicher
Ademant
Oesterreicher
Greek:Διαμάντι
Hakka:Tson-sa̍k
Hebrew:יהלום
Hindi:हीरा
Hungarian:Gyémánt
Icelandic:Demantur
Indonesian:Intan
Italian:Diamante
Korean:다이아몬드
Latvian:Dimants
Lithuanian:Deimantas
Lojban:Krilytabno
Lombard:Diamaant
Macedonian:Дијамант
Malay:Berlian
Malayalam:വജ്രം
Marathi:हिरा
Min Nan:Soān-chio̍h
Mongolian:Алмааз
Norwegian:Diamant
Norwegian (Nynorsk):Diamant
Polish:Diament
Portuguese:Diamante
Quechua:Q'ispi umiña
Romanian:Diamant
Russian:Алмаз
Serbian:Дијамант
Serbo-Croatian:Dijamant
Simplified Chinese:钻石
Slovak:Diamant
Slovenian:Diamant
Spanish:Diamante
Swahili:Almasi
Swedish:Diamant
Tagalog:Diyamante
Tamil:வைரம்
Telugu:వజ్రం
Thai:เพชร
Traditional Chinese:鑽石
Turkish:Elmas
Ukrainian:Алмаз
Vietnamese:Kim cương
Varieties of Diamond
Ballas | An old name for a variety of diamond/bort. |
Bort | A black variety of diamond. Diamond material that is unsuitable for gems because of its shape, size, or color and because of flaws or inclusions. It also occurs in finely crystalline aggregates and is usually crushed into finer material. See also ballas,... |
Carbonado | A massive (polycrystalline), porous, opaque, gray, brown, or black variety of diamond used as an abrasive and in rock drills. Five different theories for the formation of carbonado have been discussed (cf. Sautter et al., 2011). See also the varieties ... |
Framesite | A variety of black bort from South Africa showing minute brilliant points possibly due to included diamonds. |
Nano-Polycrystalline Diamond | Nano-Polycrystalline Diamond (or NPD) is a completely transparent, polycrystalline synthetic consisting of randomly oriented, very tightly bonded nanoscale-sized diamond crystallites. Using a sintering process, the material is created in a multi-anvil p... |
Stewartite (of Sutton) | A magnetic, ferrouginous variety of Diamond (bort) [Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"]. Originally reported from Kimberley pipe, Kimberley, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
9 photos of Diamond associated with Kimberlite | |
7 photos of Diamond associated with Pyrope | Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 |
5 photos of Diamond associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
3 photos of Diamond associated with Almandine | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
3 photos of Diamond associated with Graphite | C |
2 photos of Diamond associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
2 photos of Diamond associated with Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
1 photo of Diamond associated with Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
1 photo of Diamond associated with Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
1 photo of Diamond associated with Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
1.CB. | Tartarosite | C |
1.CB.05b | Chaoite | C |
1.CB.05a | Graphite | C |
1.CB.05c | Fullerite | C60 |
1.CB.10b | Lonsdaleite | C |
1.CB.15 | Silicon | Si |
Fluorescence of Diamond
Some - blue, also phosphorescent
Other Information
Electrical:
Triboelectric
Thermal Behaviour:
Greatest thermal conductivity known. A sizeable stone held in the hand feels cold, hence the slang name "ice".
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
Cutting and grinding due to extreme hardness. Used for the windows on the Venera spacecraft to photograph Venus' surface.
Diamond in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Diamond
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1282.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Mineral Dealers:
References for Diamond
Reference List:
Nestola, Fabrizio, Goodrich, Cyrena A., Morana, Marta, Barbaro, Anna, Jakubek, Ryan S., Christ, Oliver, Brenker, Frank E., Domeneghetti, M. Chiara, Dalconi, M. Chiara, Alvaro, Matteo, Fioretti, Anna M., Litasov, Konstantin D., Fries, Marc D., Leoni, Matteo, Casati, Nicola P. M., Jenniskens, Peter, Shaddad, Muawia H. (2020) Impact shock origin of diamonds in ureilite meteorites. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (41) 25310-25318 doi:10.1073/pnas.1919067117
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Localities for Diamond
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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South Africa