| Color | Usually transparent, sometimes blue |
| Information | Diamond is the hardest naturally occuring substance. It is also almost entirely pure carbon. It will not dissolve in acid. It can be destroyed when put to intense heat. Due to its hardness, it is the most enduring gemstone. Surprisingly, about 80% of all of the diamonds are only fit to be used for industry. Most diamonds have 8 or 6 sides. Some have as many as 12 sides. A diamond must be used to cut another diamond. It can be separated by a hard blow on its cleavage. When diamonds are heated with oxygen, it will form carbon dioxide. If heated without, it will form graphite. They sometimes even glow when subjected to ultra-violet light. There are 4 basic diamond mines: Africa, India, Russia, and South America. South Africa produces 70% of the world's diamonds. Zaire is one of the biggest diamond-producing countries. The rock where diamonds are found is blueground. Yet, about 1 carat (200 milligrams or 0.2 grams) of diamond is all that is found in 3 short tons (2.7 metric tons) of blueground. |
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