Diamonds are associated with magical sparkle, flawless purity and high durability – but how are these breathtakingly beautiful gemstones actually created?
They are formed at depths of 150 to 300 kilometers below the earth's surface. Only there are the extreme conditions required for their formation present: temperatures of at least 1000 C° and very high pressure of 100 to 150 kilobars. In this environment, pure carbon can slowly transform into the fascinating gemstone that is valued for its beauty, purity and transparency. Diamonds are usually formed over a billion years ago.
Properties of diamonds
The importance of these requirements becomes clear when you compare the diamond with the mineral graphite, which also consists only of carbon. The difference between the soft, grey mineral and the hardest of all gemstones , which ideally shines in a brilliant white with perfect transparency, could not be greater. It is not for nothing that the name diamond is derived from the Greek word αδάμας, adamantos (invincible, invulnerable).
When diamonds are formed, the carbon atoms combine in a regular crystal lattice and form their typical octahedral shape. The parent rock is usually kimberlite, but less frequently lamproite.
The Journey to the Earth's Surface
The natural treasures reach the earth's surface through volcanic activity. The diamond bedrock is transported to the surface via pipes and is accessible to people.
The chance of finding a diamond is still very small. The ratio of gemstones to parent rock is only one in a million. The extraction process is also laborious and time-consuming: tons of earth have to be searched through before a diamond is found.
The rough diamonds also look completely unremarkable. Only after they have been cut and polished in a lengthy process can they shine in their full beauty.
grindings in the lexicon
