How Diamonds Are Formed - By: John Toure

Diamonds are everywhere and it is very difficult to go without seeing or hearing about a diamond for a day. They are used in a variety of tools and appliances, in our computers, and they are heavily advertised on television and billboards, and mostly worn out in the open by artists and Hollywood's elite. Being that the world has gone "diamond-crazy," I'm quite sure that there are some people who are wondering where diamonds come from.

The first thing that must be known is that diamonds are mostly made entirely out of carbon which ends being formed into a cubic arrangement. These are found at least 75-120 miles beneath the earth's surface. What many people don't know is that carbon is made up of melted rocks that came from the Earth's upper mantle. There are large amounts of carbon atoms in that area. Temperature change in the upper mantle plays a vital role when it comes to the formation of diamonds. This causes the carbon atoms to move further into the Earth to melt and when it cools it turns into a new rock. All it needs is the right amount of pressure and chemistry for it to bond and form diamond crystals. This process takes thousands of years because nothing is ever stagnant; there will always be some form of fluctuation whether it is temperature, pressure, or chemical reaction. For it to correctly be formed, carbon must be under nearly 435,113 pounds per square inch of pressure at a temperature of at least 752 degrees Fahrenheit. Kimberlite pipes help bring these stones to the surface.

Kimberlite pipes are nothing more than fractures deep within the Earth that allows magma to flow through them. These pipes push diamonds and other sorts of sediments, rocks, and minerals through the mantel and crust. This process has been known to become even more powerful than some of the present-day volcanic eruptions. Magma eventually cools inside the pipes and leaves kimberlite rock. Most diamond minders search for this bluish rock to find diamonds.

As I stated before, this is a very long process that takes thousands of years. Despite this long process, it's pretty evident that this is all worth it!

About the Author

John Toure has a great knowledge of diamonds and other forms of jewelry. To view more information about stair lifts, please visit, Desired Gems.

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