Home >> Science & Nature >> Rocks & Minerals

What Is a Diamond?

A diamond isn't just a girl's best friend. It's a mineral that has a great deal of applications and also one that is highly prized for its beauty and unique characteristics. Most of us are probably used to seeing diamonds in jewelry, but they are also used in a number of industrial applications. The diamond mining business brings in billions of dollars every year and is a highly lucrative, yet controversial business.

Composition
- Diamonds are composed entirely of pressurized and superheated carbon. They are the second most stable form of carbon found in nature.
Hardness
- The diamond is the hardest known material that exists in the natural world. Because of this, it is often used in cutting tools in industrial settings.
Gemstones
- Diamonds are often cut and polished to create beautiful gemstones. These are used to make some of the most sought after jewelry in the world and are traded in retail settings more than other precious minerals.
Impurities
- Most natural diamonds contain impurities that can affect their color. For example, those that contain boron are a blue color and also a type of diamond that can conduct electricity.
Controversy
- Diamonds mined in certain parts of Africa have started a harsh controversy. Rebel groups in the area that took control of diamond mines are known to treat their workers poorly and the diamonds are often used to fund violent, revolutionary groups.

Rocks & Minerals