Table of Contents
What is the mineral composition of a diamond?
carbon
diamond, a mineral composed of pure carbon. It is the hardest naturally occurring substance known; it is also the most popular gemstone. Because of their extreme hardness, diamonds have a number of important industrial applications.
Does diamonds have a crystal structure?
Diamond’s crystal structure is isometric, which means the carbon atoms are bonded in essentially the same way in all directions. Another mineral, graphite, also contains only carbon, but its formation process and crystal structure are very different.
What shape are diamond crystals?
The most common shape for rough gem quality diamond is the octahedron, which looks like two pyramids back to back. Crystals that are almost perfect in shape and transparency are called glassies.
What is crystal structure of diamond?
The crystal structure of a diamond is a face-centered cubic or FCC lattice. Each carbon atom joins four other carbon atoms in regular tetrahedrons (triangular prisms).
What is the crystal shape of diamond?
octahedron
The most common shape for rough gem quality diamond is the octahedron, which looks like two pyramids back to back. Crystals that are almost perfect in shape and transparency are called glassies.
What is the crystal system of a diamond?
Cubic crystal system
Diamond/Crystal system
Diamonds typically crystallize in the cubic crystal system and consist of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms. A second form called lonsdaleite with hexagonal symmetry is also found.
What is the crystal structure of a diamond?
Crystal Structure The crystal structure of a diamond is a face-centered cubic or FCC lattice. Each carbon atom joins four other carbon atoms in regular tetrahedrons (triangular prisms). Based on the cubic form and its highly symmetrical arrangement of atoms, diamond crystals can develop into several different shapes, known as ‘crystal habits’.
Which is the best description of a crystal’s habit?
In mineralogy, crystal habit is the characteristic external shape of an individual crystal or crystal group. A single crystal’s habit is a description of its general shape and its crystallographic forms, plus how well developed each form is. Recognizing the habit may help in identifying a mineral.
Which is the most common shape of a diamond?
Based on the cubic form and its highly symmetrical arrangement of atoms, diamond crystals can develop into several different shapes, known as ‘crystal habits’. The most common crystal habit is the eight-sided octahedron or diamond shape.
How is the habit shape of a mineral influenced?
These shapes are influenced by the atomic structure of the mineral, but they can also be influenced by the environment of crystal growth. Regardless of influence, crystal habit shapes can be characteristic of the mineral and displayed by many specimens of that mineral from diverse locations. Some examples: