The name diamond is derived from the ancient Greek αδάμας (adámas). Diamonds are thought to have been first recognized and mined in India, where significant alluvial deposits of the stone could be found many centuries ago along the rivers Penner, Krishna and Godavari. Diamonds have been known in India for at least 3,000 years but most likely 6,000 years.
Diamond is one of the best known allotropes of carbon. The hardness and high dispersion of light of diamond make it useful for both industrial applications and jewellery. Diamond is the hardest known natural mineral. This makes it an excellent abrasive and makes it hold polish and luster extremely well. credit: http://www.secondpicture.comDiamond is the hardest natural material known, where hardness is defined as resistance to scratching and is graded between 1 (softest) and 10 (hardest) using the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Industrial diamonds are valued mostly for their hardness and heat conductivity, making many of the gemological characteristics of diamond, including clarity and color, mostly irrelevant. This helps explain why 80% of mined diamonds (equal to about 100 million carats or 20,000 kg annually), unsuitable for use as gemstones and known as bort, are destined for industrial use.
Diamonds are the birthstone for those born in April
If you were lucky enough to be born in April, your birthstone is the king of gemstones - the Diamond. "White diamonds" - the traditional style of engagement ring diamonds come in a range of colors from colorless to yellowish. The colorless ones are the most prized. But diamonds are also available in a wide range of colors in all hues of the rainbow. Red, black, blue and green are the most expensive and most desirable.
credit: http://www.canadadiamonds.com/A diamond is formed in nature, first as a rough chunk of carbon called lampriote or kimberlite deep within the earth. Over the passage of time and great pressures, the deposit reaches the surface, where it can be mined, polished and set in jewelry
India is thought to have been the first large source of diamond mining. Large diamond mining companies are found in South Africa, Russia and even Arkansas in the USA.
There are many metaphysical and folklore tales association with diamonds. In mythology, diamonds were thought by ancient Greeks to be splinters of stars which had fallen to earth. Some even thought they were tears of the gods. They also believed that Cupid’s arrows were tipped in diamonds. It makes perfect sense that this has translated, over the years, so that this lovely stone has acquired the reputation of being the gift of lovers.
info credit:
http://vintagejewelrylane.com/information/birthstones.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond
