Black Diamond Description
Black diamonds are among the world's largest and most famous gemstones. Their ranks include the Black Diamond of Bahia (350 carats), the Table of Islam (160.18 carats), the Black Star of Africa (202 carats), the Black Orloff/Orlov or Eye of Brahma (originally 195 carats and subsequently cut to 67.5 carats) and the Amsterdam Diamond (55.85 carats). Each has reached a different earthly destiny, but all are thought to have originated from a star.
Carbonados
- Black diamonds are also called carbonados. This is a Portuguese term, believed to have been coined in Brazil during the mid-18th century. The term likens the physical appearance of black diamonds to porous charcoal.
Structure
- The structure of black diamonds comprises millions of small crystals clustered together. It is unlike the structure of conventional diamonds, and is therefore, much more difficult to cut. Black diamond structure is also much harder than that of conventional diamonds. In fact, black diamonds were used to drill the rocks for the Panama Canal in 1905.
Locations
- There is no scientific consensus as to how black diamond deposits were formed, although there is general agreement that they are found only on the African continent and in Brazil. Scientific theory suggests this is because Africa and Brazil were once connected and an asteroid event happened. Some scientists believe that such an event may have taken place billions of years ago.
Star Origins
- Because black diamonds contain hydrogen, it is thought that they were formed in an environment such as that of a star. Testing likens their composition to a type of diamond in space. Did black diamonds result from a supernova explosion that then spawned asteroids that fell to earth? Some scientists believe this is plausible. Consider too that black diamonds are said to be older than 3.8 billion years while conventional diamond deposits, which were apparently pushed to the earth's surface as a result of volcanic eruptions, are estimated at between 100 million and one billion years old.
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