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How Are Diamonds Formed? Where Did Diamonds Form?

For all of those who really want to delve into what makes up a diamond or how are diamonds formed or where did diamonds form, well, this is where you will learn all about this exciting information. All kidding aside, this is actually a very interesting topic and we will cover in as much detail about how diamonds form , where diamonds form, and even more gemology than you can handle. So for those of you who must know the answer to the question, "How are diamonds formed"... sit back and enjoy the ride, my friend because it is about to get hot!

Composition
Color: Colorless, Yellow, Brown, Green, Blue, Reddish, Pink, Grey & Black Transparency: Transparent
Color of Streak: Not possible due to hardness Refractive Index: 2.417 - 2.419
Moh's Hardness Scale: 10 (the highest) Specific Gravity: 3.47 - 3.55
Cleavage: Perfect Fracture: Chonchoidal to Splintery
Chemical Makeup: Pure Crystallized Carbon Crystal Definition: Cubic (isometric), mainly octahedrons

Diamonds formed as crystals and are composed of pure carbon (C). Where most gems are a combination of elements, the diamond is one of the few stones that is made up of one single element.  They take their form under tremendous heat and pressure. The only place where these types of conditions exist are deep beneath the Earth's surface. The depth that diamonds are formed is about 150km to200km (90 to 120 miles) below the surface and at temperatures ranging from 900 to 1300 on the Celsius scale. When these two actions are interacting together, Carbon atoms are literally forced together combining in cubic molecular formation, and ultimately creating diamond crystals. This is how diamonds are formed.

Diamonds formed in lower sections of the Earth's mantle, and are then brought to the surface in rocks called, kimberlite. Diamonds are brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions. The volcanic magma conduit is known as a kimberlite pipe or diamond pipe. We find diamonds as inclusions in the volcanic rock known as kimberlite.

What are Kimberlites?
Kimberlites, or narrow pipe shaped fissures that exist through the continental crust are unusual ultramafic rocks that apparently have been explosively emplaced from deep within the Earth's mantle. To ensure the diamonds are not converted to graphite, they must be transported extremely rapidly to the Earth's surface. It is probable that kimberlite lavas carrying diamonds erupt at speeds between 10 and 30 km/hour. Within the last few kilometers, the eruption velocity probably increases to several hundred km/hr. Kimberlites form serpentine paths of mica peridotites that carry a variety of minerals which can withstand high pressures, including diamonds. They act like a conveyor belt are normally much younger than the minerals they carry up to the surface. Most kimberlite pipes formed during the Cretaceous Period from 135 to 65 million years ago. The most prominent kimberlites are located in South Africa.

Diamond processes began billions of years ago just after the formation of Earth. The earliest a diamond formed was over 990 million years ago and some are as old as 3.2 billion years. It has been said that the carbon in these diamonds quite possibly had originated on Earth's surface as life forms. It is truly amazing to fathom our earth's history and our own ancestry may be bottled up in these beautiful sparkling fires.

Now that you understand how diamonds are formed, read more on diamonds in history or start your search for diamond engagement rings today.


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