Diamond is a stone not only popular, but also the most precious of all minerals on Earth. At all times he was considered and continues to be considered a symbol of firmness, the personification of courage and a certain innocence. Its name comes from the Greek word “adamas”, which is translated into Russian as “indestructible”, “irresistible”. On Earth, there are about 1000 types of various diamonds, including jewelry. What does a diamond look like, what properties does it possess, and how is it mined?
How is a diamond different from a diamond?
Nothing. Many people mistakenly believe that diamonds and diamonds are different gems. Moreover, some of them even argue with each other about which of these stones is the most expensive. Note that all disputes between people regarding diamonds and diamonds are empty talk.
The fact is that a diamond (a photo of the mineral is presented in the article) and a diamond are one and the same stone. The only difference is that the diamond is the primary mineral, and the diamond is the diamond that has already been processed and cut. In general, the word "diamond" is French. Translated into Russian, it means "sparkling."
The appearance of natural diamond
What does a diamond look like in its original form? Without a special cut, this mineral will look extremely unattractive, since the surface of precious crystals extracted from the bowels of the Earth, in the vast majority of cases, is rough. In addition, it is covered with a translucent gray crust with various cracks.
Only professional polishing and diamond cutting will turn it into a real diamond, playing with all the colors of the rainbow in the sun. At the same time, the diamond itself in most cases will remain transparent, like a drop of water. A true diamond, dipped in a container of water, will become completely invisible.
Diamond. Mineral description
From the point of view of science, diamonds are minerals representing a cubic allotropic form of carbon. Under normal conditions, this mineral is able to exist for an unlimited period. If diamond is placed in an inert gas or in vacuum at elevated temperatures, then it will turn into graphite over time. The main distinguishing features of diamonds are:
- very high (among other minerals) hardness;
- the highest heat conductivity among all existing solids;
- dispersion;
- high refractive index;
- low coefficient of friction for metal in air;
- dielectric properties.
The diamond described in the framework of this article, due to its highest hardness, has exceptional abrasion resistance. Moreover, these minerals have the highest (in comparison with other mineral stones) elasticity and the lowest compression ratio.
It is worth noting that one of the most important properties of diamond is its so-called luminescence. In other words, these gemstones, under the influence of ultraviolet, cathode or X-rays, begin to glow and shine in different colors, i.e. luminesce.
Read more about the color and luminescence of diamond
Diamond is a stone that usually does not have any color shades. But sometimes these minerals still have weakly expressed brown, yellowish, greenish or pinkish hues. Black diamonds are very rare in nature . As for jewelry options, most of the colored jewelry diamonds are brown or yellow.
Shades depend on the concentration of the defect in the structure of these stones. Color may be present in colorless diamonds. Experts note that often minerals, in which it is not possible to detect the presence of a structural defect with a spectrophotometer, shine from time to time with certain shades, playing them in the sun. This is the effect of luminescence.
Jewelery Diamonds
As a rule, the share of mined jewelry diamonds in our country is no more than 25%. Naturally, in alluvial deposits of this mineral such diamonds are found much more often than in primary ones. Jewelery diamond is a durable gem that does not have any inclusions and cracks.
Experts say that when cutting jewelry diamonds you can observe the greatest brilliance and maximum play of this stone. Their cutting completely eliminates all existing natural defects, but at the same time about half of the initial mass of the mineral is lost. When cutting diamonds, a special diamond shape is used, as well as faceting with wings, cabochon and step.
Diamond. Chemical composition
What does a diamond look like in terms of its chemical properties? This mineral is approximately 99.8% carbon. The remaining 0.2% are impurities of various chemical elements:
- nitrogen;
- aluminum;
- oxygen;
- silicon;
- boron;
- copper;
- manganese;
- nickel;
- iron;
- zinc;
- titanium etc.
Diamond. Physical properties
As already mentioned above, a diamond, the photo of which we presented to you, can be either colorless (transparent in water) or colored by luminescence in certain shades of colors. Moreover, the color is most often distributed unevenly, zonally or spotty. We repeat that it is under the influence of various light rays that the vast majority of diamonds begin to glow with all kinds of color shades.
Scientists have discovered that these minerals have a unique ability to adhere to certain fatty mixtures. This made it possible to create and further apply the widely known fat method for the extraction of diamonds in various processing plants.
Diamond. Healing properties
This valuable mineral has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. People healed them with such mental disorders as:
- phobias;
- nervous breakdowns;
- Depression
- neurosis;
- unreasonable fears.
Lithotherapists say that, for example, jewelry diamond is able to correct a person’s nervous system, setting his condition to positive. It is believed that this mineral helps in the fight against smoking, drinking, alcoholism, and drug addiction.
Behind the scenes, diamonds are excellent antipyretic drugs. Traditional healers generally recommend using diamond as an additional tool for the main treatment of the following ailments:
- hepatitis;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- inflammation of the prostate gland;
- various infections;
- joint disease.
Diamond. Esoteric and magical properties
So, we know what a diamond looks like in terms of its physicochemical properties. Now we learn how esoteric experts speak of him. They are sure that this mineral is not only the most valuable in the whole world, but also the most dangerous for humans. However, this does not mean that it will only harm its owner. A careful and careful attitude to your stone will awaken in it a positive energy in relation to its owner.
From time immemorial, people believed and continue to believe that diamonds bring courage, perseverance, firmness of spirit, determination, etc. to their owners. Esotericists agree with this. Jewelry with these minerals, in their opinion, really protects people from alcoholism and drug addiction, protects them from the evil eye, relieves sorrows, and removes certain witchcraft charms.
But not everything is as sweet and smooth as it might seem at first glance. Esotericists recall that diamonds have long been considered the stones of kings, high priests and nobles. Jewelery with diamonds has always served faithfully to high-ranking individuals. Unfortunately, a proud diamond in some cases can be completely indifferent to ordinary people from the middle class.
Diamond and astrology
Diamond - a stone, which is the first in the zodiac circle. This mineral has exceptional energy, which in its power can not be compared with the energy of other minerals. From an astrological point of view, diamonds reflect the entire zodiac, being unspoken leaders among other minerals.
According to astrologers, every person born under the constellation Aries should have this mineral. The fact is that his magical power is able to tame the anger, irritability and temper of its owner. Of course, diamonds are not contraindicated in other signs of the zodiac.
Amulets and talismans with diamonds
If you want to use jewelry with faceted diamonds as charms and amulets, it is recommended to wear them in the form of rings on the ring finger of your left hand, in the form of pendants on the neck or in the form of earrings. In this case, the stone must touch your skin. A diamond mascot will only work if its holder’s intentions are moral and honest. Do not wear jewelry with diamonds as charms and amulets for murderers, scammers, thieves, repeat offenders, swindlers, dishonest people, etc.
How are diamonds mined?
Diamond mining is a serious and time-consuming business, since this mineral is one of the first to crystallize during cooling of the mantle silicate melt, located in the bowels of the Earth at a depth of up to 200 km. In this case, the pressure exerted on the crystallization processes is equal to 5000 MPa. Then, under the influence of explosive processes that accompany the formation of kimberlite pipes (20% of them are contained in diamond), the mineral is carried to the surface of the Earth, from where it is subsequently mined.
Geologists claim that these stones can also be found in the deep rocks of the Earth, called eclogites. It is curious that in due time small diamonds were found in meteorites in a rather large amount. Diamonds were also mined in giant meteorite craters, where heavily remelted rocks have a significant amount of fine crystalline minerals. In general, the industrial deposits of these stones are directly related to placers and kimberlites. The main diamond producing countries and regions are:
- Congo (Zaire);
- Republic of South Africa;
- Namibia;
- Botswana;
- Ural;
- Yakutia.
Diamonds of Yakutia - a national treasure of Russia
Their second name is Yakut diamonds. Currently, the lapidary factories of Yakutia are in fact the undisputed leaders in the production of these minerals around the world. Specialists and jewelers argue that the whole thing is in the high quality of diamonds located in the bowels of the Yakut lands. It's hard to believe, but today even South African diamonds have already lost their status as the best diamonds in the world.
Diamonds of Yakutia, unlike their direct and more famous competitors, can boast the rarest purity in the world: the absence of cracks and all kinds of abundant inclusions on their surfaces allows the Yakut diamonds to fabulously and divinely "play" in the sun, skillfully refracting rays of light. Nevertheless, despite their obvious advantages, these stones are not widespread in our country.
The quality of diamonds mined in Russia, of course, should not be called into question. Apparently, the blame for the relics is still the Soviet worldview, according to which diamonds are of exceptional value only in the country's defense industry. Currently, up to 80% of all diamonds mined in Russia are exported to elite European and Western jewelry stores.