Diamond 
Cn - Carbon
The name "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas" which means unconquerable-suggesting the eternity of love. Diamonds are special gifts due to their glamour, rarity, durability and beauty. Diamonds are usually colorless. However, brown, yellow, green, blue, pink, red, gray and black variations are also found depending on the impurities present. More on...
Colors:
Lustre:
System:
Diamond was chosen as the state gem because at that time Arkansas was the only diamond-producing state in the United States. (Colorado now has commercial production, also.) The Crater of Diamonds State Park, located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is the only place in the nation where you can dig for diamonds and keep what you find. More than 70,000 diamonds have been found there.
The Crater of Diamonds State Park is the eighth-largest diamond deposit in the world. Farmer John Huddleston, who owned the property, discovered the first diamond in 1906. In 1972, the property was purchased for development as a state park, and since then visitors have carried home over 18,000 diamonds. Although diamonds are the main attraction, other semi-precious gems and minerals can be found there. The largest diamond found to date is Uncle Sam (1924) at 40.23 carats. It was cut to an emerald shape of 12.42 carats and sold in 1971 for $150,000.
Care and Treatment
Colored diamonds are often irradiated or painted.
The diamond is the hardest substance known. Generally, diamonds are quite durable. However, diamonds are subject to chipping and fracture when handled roughly. Diamonds should be stored separately. Diamonds can scratch other jewelry as well as each other.
Note the following misleading terms when discussing diamonds:
"Alaska diamond", "Alencon diamond", "Arkansas diamond", "Bohemian diamond", "Bristol diamond", "Cornish diamond", "Irish diamond", "Isle of Wight diamonds", "Marmora diamond", "Mexican diamond" and "Vallum diamond" are really rock crystal (quartz) and NOT real diamond.
"Ceylon diamond" and "mature diamond" designate colorless zircon.
"Jourado diamond" is an imitation colorless stone.
"Killiecrankie diamond" and "Saxony diamond" designate colorless topaz.
"Radium diamond" is really smoky quartz.
"Alaska black diamond" is really hematite.
"Nevada diamond" and "Nevada black diamond" designate obsidian.
Hardness
Healing
All brain diseases; pituitary & pineal glands; draws out toxicity, poison remedy.
Where Found
Diamond was discovered in 500 B.C. in India. The name "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas" which means unconquerable - suggesting the eternity of love. Diamonds are mostly found in Australia, Ghana, Zaire, the former USSR, USA Arkansas, California, Colorado, and North Carolina), and Brazil.
Birthstone Months
Star Stone Months
Anniversary Gemstone
Mystical Properties
Diamonds are said to increase personal clarity to help one see things clearly as well as be straight-forward and honest. Supposedly, the higher quality the diamond, the better it is supports these qualities.
Lore
The diamond is the emblem of fearlessness and invincibility.
Diamond is referred to as the "King Gem". (Pearl is often referred to as the "Queen Gem".)
The Hindus believed that a flawed diamond, or one containing spots or specks was so unlucky that it could even deprive the God Indra of his highest heaven.
Diamond is the US State Gemstone of Arkansas.
Diamond is said to be the Winter Gemstone of the Season.
|
