Diamond - is a special mineral: it not only exceeds in value from the rest of the gems, but also has extraordinary significance for science. In addition, it is the hardest of all known minerals.
Diamond - the hardest of known minerals. In addition, it is the most refractory and heat-conducting element. The diamonds are of jewelry and technical. Transparent jewelry used for the manufacturing of polished diamonds from the diamond drill bit technology makes drilling well, the details of equipment.
Solid, but fragile
The Greeks named the diamond as "Adamas" which means "invincible." Indeed, the hardness of diamond makes it an amazingly strong: it is impossible to scratch it with any other mineral and for its cutting and polishing is necessary to use another diamond. However, despite its hardness, diamond is extremely fragile, and a strong enough blow to split it.
Where can I find a diamond
Unlike most minerals, the diamond is formed at great depths. On the surface of the earth find diamonds in the craters of ancient volcanoes - kimberlitic pipes. Small crystals are sometimes brought to the ground meteorites.
How much is a diamond
Very often confuse the uninitiated the term "diamond" and "brilliant." In fact, the diamond - a diamond is a special cut. It emphasizes the inherent internal play of light, which is due to refraction of light rays, and is magnified by the proper cut. Price of diamonds can reach dizzying heights, depending on the purity, weight, cut and color of the stone. Find a good diamond - not an easy task: to get a little gem in the polarity weight (round brilliant 5 millimeters in diameter), you must sift through dozens of tons of rock.
The king of precious stones
It is extremely rare, glowing from the inside and extremely hard, a diamond on the right is the first among gemstones.
Diamond - King of precious stones. For many centuries the possession of the diamond was a privilege of kings and high society. Many of the famous diamonds exported from India and South Africa took its rightful place in the rare beauty of jewelry.
The legendary "Cullinan"
The largest diamond in history was a diamond, "Cullinan", also known as "Star of Africa." This diamond, mined in one of the South African mines and weighed 3106.0 carats, or 650 grams, was presented in raw form to the King of England Edward VII. He has ordered to cut it in faceted stone in 1906. A result of the giant diamond was obtained as 105 faceted stones. The largest, "Cullinan I», weighing 530 carats, was inserted into the scepter of the monarch.
The color of diamond
Most of the diamonds are colorless, but some of them have a particular color, often indistinguishable to the naked eye. In addition, come across the yellow and brown diamonds, and more rarely pink, red, blue, green, gray and black.
Did you know that:
In the past, attributed to a variety of diamond properties, such as identify poisons, to protect against plague. Napoleon ordered to put his sword in a fabulously expensive diamond "Regent", following the ancient belief that the diamond makes its bearer invincible.
Where there are diamonds
Most diamonds are concentrated in the southern hemisphere. Older deposits of diamonds in India are completely depleted, and today's best stones come from South Africa and Australia. Other major suppliers of diamonds are Russia, Brazil and Venezuela.
