diamond

diamond, mineral, one of two crystalline forms of the element carbon (see allotropy), the hardest natural substance known, used as a gem and in industry.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• The Diamond Cartel
• Sources
• Natural Occurrence and Processing
• Properties
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Mineralogy and Crystallography