Diamond

A diamond is another form of carbon, formed over billions of years under extreme pressure and heat. Volcanic eruptions bring them to the Earth's surface. Every year, companies mine about 57000 pounds of diamonds. They are worth billions of dollars. The most diamonds are found in Africa. There are a number of ways to produce synthetic diamonds, including high-pressure high-temperature synthesis, chemical vapor deposition, and detonation synthesis. While not as expensive as real diamond, it still costs a pretty penny at 200 dollars per carat. The first synthetic diamond was produced in the 1950's.

The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word for "unbreakable". The name is perfect, since the only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, diamond ranks a ten. Ten is the hardest on the scale, and one is the softest. Diamonds can cut through any material except another diamond, in which case they can just leave scratches.

 Diamond is the hardest natural material known to man and is often used in factories for industrial cutting and polishing tools. Diamond is also the best known thermal conductor among naturally occurring substances.The synthesized material known as cubic zirconia is a crystalline form of zirconium dioxide. It is at times in competition with diamond because as well as being hard, optically flawless and colorless, it is also durable and cheap. 

Diamonds, however, hold the place as the world's most popular gem. It is also the most searched for. Diamonds, being so beautiful, are used mostly in expensive jewelry. A diamond ring is usually used for a wedding ring. A few of the world's most famous diamonds include: 

The Hope Diamond, a rare large blue diamond that holds a reputation for being cursed.

The Yellow Tiffany Diamond weighed an amazing 287.42 carats when it was found in the North Kimberly Mine.

The Koh-i-Noor Diamond is thought to be the world's largest diamond. It is now part of the British Crown Jewels.

After being originally found by a slave in an Indian mine, the 140.64 carat Regent Diamond has been through an epic history including an English sea merchant and French royalty. It is now on display at the Louvre, where it has been on display since 1887.