Diamonds are the most popular of all gemstones. The reason behind this is that the diamond is more than just a status symbol; it is also a fascinating stone in its own right. Its origins, characteristics, and appearance are all contributing to the gemstone’s popularity.
If you’re interested in diamonds, you’re undoubtedly aware that they’re composed of compressed carbon and that they’re the birthstone for people born in the month of April. You may also be aware that diamonds are the hardest substance known to man and that only a diamond can cut or damage another diamond. You may possibly be aware of some interesting facts regarding the Hope diamond, such as its unusual history and “curse.”
Are you eager to learn more about these stunning gemstones? What follows is a list of interesting facts about diamonds, so continue reading to find out more.
Diamonds form deep beneath the Earth’s crust
The majority of minerals, including corundum, which creates ruby and sapphire, and beryl which creates emerald and aquamarine, develop in the Earth’s crust – the layer we all live on.
Diamonds, on the other hand, are utterly alien since they form considerably deeper beneath the Earth’s crust, at depths of 150-200 kilometers (93-124 miles), near the foot of old, thick continents. Some are considerably deeper, formed at the interface between the Earth’s mantle and its outer core. These are referred to as superdeep diamonds.
Diamonds are brought to the surface by very intense volcanic eruptions that occur at depths of more than 200 kilometers. In these explosions, they act as accidental passengers, transmitting essential information through their mineral inclusions, which are most typically kyanite, garnet, and olivine. These materials are remarkably well preserved by diamonds.
Diamonds are incredibly strong, robust, and effective at preventing things from diffusing or seeping in and out, preserving a vast amount of information. Diamond inclusions can also assist researchers in understanding the distribution of elements in the Earth’s layers, as well as when plate tectonics began.
The true value of superdeep diamonds has only been uncovered recently
For many years, it was assumed that diamonds formed at depths over 200 kilometers would be tiny and never possess gem quality. However, in the last four years, researchers have discovered that many enormous, high-quality diamonds—Type IIa diamonds (stones with excellent color and clarity) and Type IIb diamonds (gray or blue due to the presence of boron)—are actually superdeep stones.
The 404-carat rough diamond discovered in 2016 in the Lulo Mine in Angola is one example of a superdeep diamond. It was the largest diamond ever known to originate from Angola, and it was immediately determined to be Type IIa and D color. What’s more, the 813-carat Constellation diamond from Botswana’s Karowe mine, the famed Hope diamond, and the 3,106-carat Cullinan – the biggest diamond ever discovered, are all superdeep diamonds.
If you are looking to buy diamonds, know that superdeep diamonds can be distinguished by the presence of high-pressure mineral inclusions such as calcium perovskite (Ca-pv).
Canada is home to the world’s oldest diamonds
The Earth is 4.5 billion years old, while the planet’s oldest rocks, discovered in Northern Quebec, are 4.3 billion years old. Now comes the interesting part: similar to the Earth’s oldest rocks, the oldest diamonds, aging 3.5 billion years old, also originate from Canada. The oldest diamonds analyzed by geologists have come from the Diavik mine.
Some of Earth’s “younger” diamonds were discovered at the Argyle and Ellendale mines in Australia and have formed 1.6 and 1.4 billion years ago, respectively. Other old diamonds can also be found in Sierra Leone, but are just 650 million years old.
To put this in context, all of these diamonds are older than the Atlantic Ocean, which opened up some 200 million years ago when the supercontinent Pangaea began to break apart. Also, keep in mind the dinosaurs went extinct 65 million years ago.
Some diamonds may be from outer space
One of the most intriguing facts people come across when trying to find the answer to the popular question “Are diamonds a good investment?” is that some may have originated in a cosmic environment, so they make for quite a unique purchase.
Carbonado diamonds, which are typically found in Africa and South America, are thought to have been deposited by an asteroid that collided with the Earth around 3 billion years ago.
You’re unlikely to find a carbonado diamond set in an engagement ring because these stones are one-of-a-kind; yet, they contain significant quantities of graphite and are highly porous. Some carbonado diamonds may be cut and polished into black diamond jewelry, which is a unique addition to any collection.
You can actually fracture a diamond in one, precisely-placed blow
While diamond cutting is a difficult process, diamonds actually turn out to be quite fragile and may be broken with a single blow, provided that you know exactly where to place it.
But don’t be concerned about shattering the diamonds in your engagement ring: Splitting a diamond into smaller portions necessitates specialized understanding and examination of the stone’s intrinsic crystal structure. If you’re ever worried about bumping your beloved jewelry, keep this vital diamond fact in mind: Diamonds are not only the hardest substance known to man; they are also 58 times harder than any natural material we know of.
Want to search for your own diamond? You can!
If you ever find yourself in Arkansas, you need to visit Murfreesboro. The town is home to Crater of Diamonds State Park, where you may go diamond hunting. It is also the world’s seventh-biggest known diamond-bearing volcanic crater and a great source of white, brown, and yellow diamonds. The location is also home to amethysts, garnets, and other valuable stones, making for a really interesting journey – even if you don’t dig up a diamond.
If you’re intrigued, a number of huge diamonds have been discovered here. The Uncle Sam Diamond, a white diamond weighing 40.23 carats, was the most spectacular – and the biggest diamond ever unearthed in the United States. It was discovered in 1924.
