Diamond

Diamond It is a solid mineral having natural origin. Cubic modification of carbon is distinguished by high pressure resistance. The name of the mineral means "solid". There are many interesting facts and old legends about this precious stone. From our review you will learn about such things as the origin of diamonds, the amazing properties of the mineral and features of the application.

History of Almaz

The outdated name of the diamond is Adamant, which comes from the Greek word Adamas. It is translated as invincible.

Interesting and history of diamond. The first mention of this stone falls on the third millennium to our era. But jewelry with diamonds began to apply only 500 years ago. It was then that the masters began to master the cutting technique, allowing to receive diamonds.

Diamond stones were especially valued by Empress Catherine II. She considered him the most beautiful of all minerals. The historical facts should be attributed to the acquisition of Paul I of the Red Brilliant, the cost of which was 100 thousand rubles. In those days, for 5 rubles it was possible to buy a cow.

The mineral has long been noticed for a long time, since not a faceted diamond looks like a crystalline crystal, an indefinite configuration. Diamond in nature can be colorless or transparent.

The stone is the hardest mineral, and there is no harder diamond in this area. The hardness of the material depends on the composition of the crystal lattice.

Place of Birth

Consider interesting facts about diamonds. Huge deposits of precious stone are located on the territory of South Africa, Kimberly. These diamond deposits were discovered in 1866, on the coast of the Orange River.

Many famous diamonds such as Koh-i-noor Were found in South India. Until the 18th century, this country was considered the main platoon of diamond production in the world. And then the largest diamond deposits were found in Brazil. And nowadays in this country find small minerals of excellent quality.

Koh and Nor.

In the 19th century, South Africa became the main source of diamond field. Stones for industrial purposes were mainly mined on the territory of the Congo. Interesting variants of unprocessed diamonds of fantasy colors supplies Australia. Precious stones are mined in the United States. These are territories such as Colorado and Arkansas.

Alluvial diamond varieties are obtained in Canada, in the province of Quebec, on the island of Saint Helena and in the North-Western territories. There are deposits and in Russia, Serbia and Venezuela.

How diamonds are formed

The chemical composition of the precious stone, which is pure carbon, is the same as graphite. The known diamond hardness is due to a special crystalline structure, which is formed as a result of strong pressure and high temperature in the upper layers of the earth's surface.

The formation of diamonds that occurs at a depth of 80-150 km deserves. Since the stone consists of carbon, then in oxygen it burns.

At diamond fields, the stones are found in the form of crystals in flat form and often with curved faces.

The processing of diamonds Europeans began to apply from the 14th century. A cutting with a cut and a rose method for small elements was performed. The treated diamond to the diamond appeared only in the 17th century. Over time, this technology was improved.

Currently, different types of diamond cuts are obtained by laser technology. This is the first gem, whose weight began to determine in carats. In 1907, an accurate measure was established, equal to 0.2 grams. These minerals are characterized by an ideal crystalline configuration and symmetry.

There are different theories about how diamonds are formed. The magmatic theory argues that carbon atoms under the influence of high temperatures change their structure. When eruption of volcanoes, precious stones together with magma come to the surface.

There is also the theory about the meteorite origin of stones. According to it, the crystals were formed on incident meteorites.

The mineral deposits with extraterrestrial origin were found in the Grand Canyon in the United States, where 30 thousand years ago a huge meteorite fell. The deposit that arose as a result of the fall of the meteorite is also in Sakha in Yakutia, as diamonds in this area can be found in more detail.

What diamonds look like

Natural diamond without processing may seem too round. But the faceted diamond is distinguished by dispersion and gloss. The diamond cut contributes to the fact that the verge of the mineral reflects a large amount of incident light.

It is worth noting other types of cuts. This is a pondeok, Kushon, Round and Fantasy Processing. Small stones are used to decorate inserts. In the process of processing, most of the mass of the stone may be lost. The processing of the material is performed using different techniques. Grinding allows you to remove different flaws. Polishing helps to create a mirror surface. The cut is made using a special disc from cast iron.

The cost of diamonds depends on parameters such as coloring and transparency.

Properties of Almaz

The unique properties of the diamond are also known, which benefits from other minerals to other minerals:

The high density of diamond allows it to be applied in industrial sectors.
The stone is the most solid of all minerals on the planet.
The increased strength of the diamond contributes to long and costly processing.
When penetrating the charged particles in the crystal, electrical impulses are formed.
High superframe contributes to bright gloss and a multicolored game of the faceted surface.

The important characteristics of the diamond should also be resistant to sulfur, nitric and flooding acid. But the burning of the diamond is possible when exposed to alkaline melts. Melting can be achieved at temperatures above 700 degrees, and at 1000 mineral completely combines.

The crystal grate of the stone is a cube, in each vertex of which an atom is located. Additional atoms are inside the cube. Such a diamond formula contributes to a dense compound of atoms.

Mineral can have a different color or be colorless. A stone can be painted in all sorts of shades of brown, red, green, yellow and blue. Coloring is often distributed unevenly.

The relative hardness of the mineral on the Moss scale is 10. And the absolute exceeds the quartz rate of 1000 times, and the corundum in 150.

In this case, the mineral is characterized by fragility and can easily split.

Medical properties

Since a long time, it was believed that the diamond had a therapeutic effect and high energy potential.

The positive impact of this mineral helps to cope with some ailments:

Elimination of inflammatory processes.
Treatment of skin diseases.
Prevention of urinary bubble diseases, stomach and bronchi.
Normalization of the mental state and getting rid of insomnia, anxiety and irritability.
Stabilization of the state with hypertension.

It is believed that mineral creates vibrations that help in the treatment of gynecological ailments.

Magic properties

Almaz is popular and thanks to magical properties. Stone enhances the aura of its owner and gives strength. And a person can absorb all the benefits that are stolen by diamond products. It is believed that he helps in his personal life and brings success at work.

Almaz in Starina was a charm who defended his owner from various magical influences. The ancient Egyptians believed that the stone was able to protect his owner from the action of poisons.

It is worth noting the magic properties of the stone in which they believe in our day:

To improve the position in the love sphere, decorations with jewel are worn on the left hand.
For various rites, yellow stones are used.
The perfect faith is the white diamond.
For good luck in business, a combination of a diamond with gold is suitable.

To the diamond fit

According to the zodiac horoscope, the sign of Aries and weights is protected by this precious stone. The nature of the Aries implies a constant struggle, and the pink mineral will give this sign and energy.

Scales are permanent doubts when making a decision, and the blue stone will give decisiveness and lead to victories.

Colors of Almaz

The classification of diamonds is determined by the color palette. The shade depends on impurities that are part of. Chemical reactions occurring in the formation of a mineral also affect the color. An unusual beauty is different and a transparent stone that does not have any shade.

Yellow stones are obtained when carbon atoms change to nitrogen elements. Minerals of dark yellow tones possess a special value. They look excellently in the frame of pure gold.

The cost of gemstone depends on the saturation of the shade. Especially appreciated materials of brown. They are found at great depths in the fields of Australia. The color palette varies from brandy tone and to dark coffee.

Blue shade may appear when refining. A similar color may have a natural origin. In this case, the formula is boron atoms that appear instead of carbon.

Blue stones are distinguished by rarity. Most often, found minerals are exhibiting at auctions. There are also special technologies that allow you to get a beautiful shade of yellow minerals.

Green diamonds are not so often. Such a shade is obtained under the influence of natural radiation. Minerals of a dark green shade are especially valued among collectors.

Red stones are also considered rare. Such a variety of diamond is mined in Australia mines. Natural stones with a natural red tint are found in isolated cases.

Pink diamond

More often is a pink diamond. Why the stone has such a shade, the scientists could not explain. In the crystal structure does not observe foreign atoms.

Artificial diamonds

Artificial diamond has many advantages compared to a real mineral. He practically does not give way to the original. Synthesized stones are easier to process and exceed real minerals for cleanliness and hardness. Artificial analogues do not have defects - enclosures, turbidity and miniature cracks. And, moreover, they are cheaper than natural materials.

Famous analogues of natural diamonds

It is worth noting the existing instances that are used instead of diamonds:

Fianits were first developed in Russia.
Moissanites are a substitute for a stone that is difficult to distinguish from the original.
ASHA diamonds have a surface covered by the interlayer of carbon atoms.

A close relative of the diamond is Minerals in the WVTT. They are obtained artificially.

How to distinguish real diamond from fake

Developed chemical industry contributes to the spread of skillful fakes and all sorts of imitation. It is important to know how to distinguish a diamond of natural origin from poor-quality analogues.

There are different ways that prompted how to distinguish the real from the fake stones:

Diamond is a mineral with a flap scattering property. If, during the direction of the beam through the surface, it does not change directions - this is a sign of fake.
Different types of diamonds are glowing under the influence of ultraviolet rays.
This mineral is not abrasion. Therefore, if the surface can be considered scrap and other defects, the stone is fake.
You need to try to spend the marker on the edges, if the line does not break, the stone is real.
The original does not oversleep if you breathe.
When placing a stone in acid with him nothing will happen.
The faces of the present diamond are clear and have sharp outlines.
If there is a drop of fat on the surface of the simulation, it will first divide into small particles, and then collected. On the present diamond, the drop will remain unchanged.

To distinguish a real mineral from artificial, attention should be paid to the number of faces. At the diamond, their number is 57, and the facing faces will be much smaller.

What is synthetic diamonds

Streaming and the use of diamonds of synthetic type The US company General Electric. Technologies have been developed to obtain minerals of yellow, brown, blue and red shades.

In the world, diamonds of synthetic origin began to be actively applied since 1993. They are used not only in the jewelry sphere, but also in the field of medicine, technology and science. Synthetic minerals are different categories. For example, ordinary, high and high strength. It is worth allocating monocrystalline products.

In the year, world diamond mining is approximately 27 tons. During the same time, about 200 tons of synthetic products are produced.

Synthetic minerals are used in the production of high-tech technology. It is worth highlighting the following diamond applications:

The optical properties of the mineral are relevant. It is used in optics, production of synchrotrons and microelectronics.
Synthetic elements are suitable for the manufacture of huge power lasers in the defense industry and in the field of medicine.
Created diamond crystals are used for computer technologies. These elements are able to withstand higher temperatures than silicon chips.
Diamond powder is used in metallurgy, mechanical engineering and for defense enterprises.
Special pastes from crystals are used in the manufacture of special accuracy parts.
Synthesized crystals involve in the manufacture of cutting and grinding tools.
Medical instruments are made using synthetic products. The diamond scalpels are characterized by special strength and perfectly smooth blade.
Almaz lens differ from a high refractive factor and therefore apply to medicine.

The production technology of artificial minerals is based on the synthesis of carbon crystals at elevated pressure. Crystal cultivation is distinguished by the painstaking process.

Artificial diamonds react to magnets. To distinguish synthetic elements from originals, all sorts of techniques are used. Using spectroscopic analysis, it is possible to identify metal lines in crystals obtained by cultivation. Fluorescent analysis helps to determine the synthesized crystals.

To simulate diamonds, materials such as sapphire, zircon, rhinestone and glass are used.

Diamond care

Like other gems of products from diamonds require special care. Decorations need to be cleaned regularly. If this is not done, a whitish flare may appear. And in order to take it to be taken to contact the workshop for grinding the product.

Diamond care is to carry out simple procedures:

During cleaning the product, it is necessary to wear gloves, as the stone is characterized by sensitivity to fat covers skin.
For the purification procedure, you can use a soft fabric without a pile. To remove the dirt with a wet cleaning, you need to use soft velvet material.
The optimal cleaning agent is a soap-type soap solution. In the liquid, you can hold the product for a few minutes, and then wipe it dry.
It is impossible to conduct a procedure using high temperatures. The solution should be heated no more than 40 degrees.
To dry it, it is not recommended to use a hairdryer.
It is impossible to leave stones for a long time under the right sunny rays.

For the cleaning procedure, you can apply vodka or medical alcohol, which must be connected to water. After processing, the mineral is rubbed velvet cloth. For cleansing decorations, some types of funds cannot be used, which caused not only stone, but also a rim. It is not recommended to apply a soda that can affect the appearance of the product. It will lose its shine and become dim or matte. Hydrogen peroxide, manganese and vinegar contribute to the oxidation of the gold framing and dustiness of the diamond.

Under the influence of iodine, gold can change color. Chlork also strongly affects the shade of gold and discolor it. Cleaning household products cannot be used for water procedures, which contain a large percentage of abrasive and alkaline materials. Abrasive components can scratch the surface of gold or lead to stonum dullness. Decorations can be cleaned with a toothbrush, but only with soft bristles.

Dirt often accumulates in clasps, locks and in places of stone fastening. It is impossible to try to remove pollution with the needle. It can provoke the appearance of scratches.

The purity of the diamond is influenced by the quality of processing and color of the product. This indicator depends on the availability of defects. The price of middle quality mineral is from $ 500 per carat. The cost of jewelry depends on weight, color, cleanliness and cuts. Using useful recommendations for the definition of the original, you can pick up a high-quality mineral. And simple care tips will allow for a long time to preserve an attractive appearance without resorting to surface grinding.