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Diamond:
Native Element (Native) C AKA: Bort, Carbonado |
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System: Isometric; mostly octahedrons; less commonly dodecahedral; rarely cubic; usually with curved faces; also rounded and irregular grains. Appearance: White, colorless (colorless, gem variety); pale shades of yellow, red, orange, blue, green, brown (fancies, gem variety); blackish micro-crystalline masses (carbonado variety); sometimes rounded with a fibrous, radiate structure (bort variety); adamantine, greasy. Physical Properties: Hardness: (10.0); Specific gravity: (3.5). Cleavage: Perfect, four directions. Fracture, conchoidal; brittle; transparent to translucent; some stones strongly fluorescent. Similar species: Diamond is most easily confused with quartz pebbles, but the luster and hardness of the diamond will suffice to distinguish one from the other. Occurrence: Although a substantial proportion of diamonds are mined from placer sedimentary deposits, diamond is actually formed in peridotite of plutonic rocks, where it is associated with olivine, magnetite and phlogopite. India was the earliest source of diamonds. They were discovered in Brazil in 1729, in South Africa in 1867, and in Arkansas in 1906. A few colorless diamonds were recovered along with the gold in the northern Mother Lode counties of California. Miscellaneous: Gem varieties of diamond include colorless, which may be colorless or faintly tinted, commonly with yellow or brown and less commonly with green or blue; and fancies, diamonds with decided tint or depth of color. In fancy diamonds, browns are very common, orange, violet, strong yellow (or canary) and yellowish greens or common, and red, blue and deep pure green are rarest. Black diamonds are rarely used in jewelry. Diamond also occurs in two quite distinct varieties. Rough rounded masses with radial or confused structure, without distinct cleavage, bort and opaque, granular to compact, without distinct cleavage, carbonado (black diamond). Because they are aggregates of very minute crystals, bort and carbonado are primarily used as abrasives. Diamonds are faceted for their ultimate use in jewelry. The name is from the Greek adamas, "invincible". Diamonds have many uses, but principally as gems and as an abrasive. Diamond is the birthstone for April. Conventional Wisdom: During the Middle Ages, some people believed that two diamonds placed together in the right circumstances could mate and produce offspring. In the sixteenth century, Francisco Ruei's De gemmis gave the following crystal-mystical explanation: "The celestial energy in the parent stones, qualified by some as 'vis adamantifica,' first changes the surrounding air into water, or some similar substance, and then condenses and hardens this into the diamond gem." Sir John Mandeville said that two mated diamonds would bring forth children, and when watered with May dew they would grow bigger. On the other hand, it was also believed that diamonds could sicken and die, losing their luster in the process. Jean de la Taille de Bonderay wrote in 1754 that diamonds "even take offense if an injury be done them and become rough and pale." Powerfully absorbs and amplifies the thoughts and attitudes of user, other gems, and wearer's strengths and weaknesses. Used with loving, clear intent it clears blocks and opens the crown chakra. Brings spiritual love and peace. Cleanse thoroughly (It can hold other's previous attitudes, emotions...) Ancients also used for detoxing. Intensifier and magnifier of other stones. Very pure, focus of energy from the Source: if one does not fall into seeing only the material value of the stone. Master healer. An extremely powerful stone in the removing of blockages and all emotional negativity. Belongs to the Astrological Signs of Aries, Leo and Taurus. |