Diamond
| Colour | Clear, Yellow, Brown, Gray |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 10 (defining mineral) |
| Lustre | Adamantine |
| Streak | Colorless |
| Crystal system | Cubic |
| Transparency | Transparent to subtransparent to translucent |
| Cleavage | 111 (perfect in four directions) |
| Fracture | Irregular/Uneven |
| Chemical formula | C |
| Specific gravity | 3.52 |
What is Diamond?
Diamond is a mineral form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Diamond is a tasteless, odorless, strong, brittle solid, a poor conductor of electricity, colorless in pure form, and insoluble in water. Another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the chemically stable form of carbon at room temperature and pressure, but diamond is metastable and converts to it at a negligible rate under those conditions. Diamond has the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any natural material, properties that are used in major industrial applic
How to identify Diamond
- Lustre: Adamantine.
- Hardness: Mohs 10 (defining mineral) — hard enough to scratch glass.
- Streak: Colorless.
- Habit: Cubic crystal system.
Diamond in different forms
Stones often confused with Diamond
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Diamond?
Diamond is Mohs 10 (defining mineral) on the hardness scale.
What colour is Diamond?
Diamond is typically clear, yellow, brown, gray (Typically yellow, brown, or gray to colorless. Less often blue, green, black, translucent white, pink, violet, orange, p).