Diamond: The April Birthstone
The month of April is characterized by many things, but in the mineral world, one mineral truly stands out; Diamond. Diamond is the irrefutable birthstone for April above opal and sapphire which are also recognized as April birthstones. Let us take a quick look into the sparkling, precious and at the same time hardest natural substance on earth.
Diamond is a crystalline form of pure carbon formed under high pressure and temperature. The carbon atoms become tightly fisted together in all directions which characterize its hardness. This occurs deep in the Earth’s mantle (about 100 miles) and the diamonds are brought through deep-source volcanic eruptions. The eruptions produce kimberlite and lamproite pipes that contain the diamonds. Diamonds are mined from these pipes or in alluvial deposits formed when diamond-bearing rocks are weathered away and deposited in gravel, loose soil and sand.
Diamond color range from colorless to sooty black (many colors in between) depending with the kind of impurities embedded inside it. It has a specific gravity ranging from 3.4 to 3.6. It is weighed in carats (1 carat = 200 milligrams) and in points (1 point = 0.01 carat). The measure of quality for gem diamond is determined by its carat weight, cut, clarity and color.
Diamond’s Brilliance
Diamond is highly desired and sought for because of its optical properties and durability. In fashion it’s a symbol of wealth and royalty. Rough diamonds have a greasy luster but when cut its adamantine luster is revealed. It has an ability to reflect a high percentage of light that strikes it surface into separated component colors. This quality is optimized during diamond cutting by ensuring that the facet angles are planned to reflect a maximum amount of light from its internal surfaces. This is what gives diamonds their extraordinary brilliance and shine.
Diamonds used for jewelry are mostly transparent, colorless or tinted. Others are mostly left for industrial use. Most gem quality diamonds are tinged with yellow while colourless or pale blue diamonds are rare and most valuable. Most industrial diamonds are gray or brown and are translucent or opaque. You will mostly find them being used in cutting, grinding, drilling, and polishing procedures.
Birthstones are a thoughtful way to express individuality. They also make unique gifts for birthdays, special occasions, and anniversaries. When you gift someone a diamond birthstone or any other birthstone jewelry, you show them that you took the time to consider one of the important features that make them who they are — like their birth month.
Read more interesting articles about minerals and other birthstones on this link: https://www.mininghubafrica.com/category/minerals/