Diamond Facts For You
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010Conflict Diamonds: Diamonds mined in rebel-held areas in Cote d’Ivoire, a West African country in the midst of a volatile conflict, are reaching the international diamond market. Conflict diamonds from Liberia are also being smuggled into neighboring countries and exported as part of the legitimate diamond trade.
Diamond Structure: Diamonds having a perfect carbon crystal lattice without defects or substitutions are colorless. Such diamond has a large band gap–meaning that the energy required to free an electron so it can move through the diamond lattice is high–and therefore is an excellent electrical insulator. Diamonds of all colors of the rainbow can be found here at Crater of Diamonds, but the three most common colors unearthed by park visitors are white, brown and yellow. Diamonds could mean frictionless medical replacement joints. Or coatings — perhaps for cars — that never scratch or wear out. Cut refers not only to the shape of the diamond, but its proportions and finish, factors that influence the final cost of the diamond. Diamonds deliver the most intense flashes and variety of colors to the eye when properly cut of any of gemstones. Cut is omitted and all diamonds are assumed to be of a good cut. (more…)