| Diamonds have assumed a range of symbolic | | | | quality of these diamonds is generally lower than |
| meanings throughout history, including the historic | | | | those which form deep within the earth. |
| notion that diamonds bestowed mysterious | | | | Diamond deposits that are large enough for mining |
| powers of protection and healing upon the elite | | | | are generally located in cratons, which are vast |
| few who possessed them. Widely renowned and | | | | areas of the earth’s crust which have |
| commercially prevalent today, diamonds are now | | | | reasonably stable properties and cover a large |
| commonly associated with wealth, status, and | | | | percentage of most continents. Cratons consist of |
| love. | | | | a substantial crust with roots that extend into the |
| A diamond is the most concentrated form of | | | | earth’s mantle below. Diamonds are |
| carbon, the element essential for all forms of life. | | | | transported to the earth’s surface by |
| The diamond is differentiated from other | | | | magma, or liquid volcanic rock traveling through |
| substances comprised of carbon due to its unique | | | | these roots, which cools and hardens as it |
| crystal structure, which identifies the bond among | | | | reaches the cooler temperature of the |
| a repeating arrangement of compounds or | | | | earth’s surface. During this hardening process, |
| elements that produce a solid entity. In fact, the | | | | cone shaped diamond deposits materialize, named |
| diamond consists of the strongest chemical bond | | | | kimberlite pipes after Kimberley, South Africa |
| known today, lending to the diamond’s | | | | where the first kimberlite pipe was found. While |
| exceptionally resilient properties. | | | | diamonds are occasionally discovered in |
| The natural process through which diamonds form | | | | meteorites and different types of rocks, most |
| adds mystique to their enchanting allure. Diamonds | | | | diamonds have historically been found in kimberlite |
| typically form deep within the earth where there | | | | pipe deposits. |
| exist conditions of extreme heat and pressure, | | | | The value of the diamond extends far beyond |
| with evidence suggesting that diamonds have | | | | the exquisite beauty that makes it popular for |
| formed hundreds of miles below the earth’s | | | | use in fine jewelry. The hardest substance known |
| surface. Temperatures in excess of one thousand | | | | to man, diamonds can also withstand extreme |
| degrees Celsius and pressure of at least fifty | | | | pressure and shock, making them valuable for |
| kilobars are conditions necessary for diamond | | | | industrial use in tools for cutting, polishing, drilling |
| formation, with the atmospheric pressure at sea | | | | and grinding. Flawed diamonds that are not suited |
| level measuring just one kilobar. In some cases, | | | | for jewelry as well as synthetic diamonds are |
| diamonds form at shallower depths which exhibit | | | | often designated for such manufacturing |
| abnormally high levels of pressure, though the | | | | applications. |