Black diamonds have been revered for their unique beauty for some time; however, it was only recently that scientists may have discovered the origin of these beauties.
Over the years there have certainly been clues that black diamonds stemmed from a source that was decidedly different from other types of diamonds. One of those clues is the fact that black diamonds can only be found in a few select locations around the world; unlike clear diamonds which can be found in numerous locations around the globe.
Black diamonds, which are also known as carbonado, can only be found in the Central African Republic and Brazil. The word carbonado itself means carbonized or burned. The term itself, which is Portuguese in origin was originally coined during the mid-18th century in Brazil; one of the two locations where black diamonds can be found.
These diamonds are composed of literally millions of crystals that are bonded together. In contrast to black diamonds, conventional diamonds are formed thousands of miles beneath the surface of the Earth. It is there that heat and high pressure convert carbon into valuable diamonds. These diamonds are often sent to the surface of the Earth through the force of volcanic blasts, making it easier for conventional diamonds to be mined.
There are also other differences between conventional diamonds and black diamonds. For example, regardless of the location from where they hail, conventional diamonds all have the same geological format and settings. They are usually much the same. Black diamonds; however, do not have the same formation as conventional diamonds.
Additionally, black diamonds are porous. For years the fact that black diamonds are porous has served as a puzzle for scientists. This is because diamonds are traditionally formed at significant depths below the surface of the Earth. For quite some time scientists have known that it would not be easy for gas to be trapped in rocks at those distances below the surface of the earth.
As a result, scientists have concluded the black diamonds may have instead come from a completely different source than conventional diamonds. In fact, scientists now believe that black diamonds may have once come from an asteroid that could have fallen to the surface of the Earth billions of years ago. The fact that black diamonds can be dated as being almost 4 billion years old seems to support this theory.
It is believed that Africa and South America were once one large land mass rather than two distinct areas. Scientists have theorized that this could account for why black diamonds now appear on the two different continents.
Furthermore, scientists have theorized that black diamonds may have once formed around a star. When the star exploded, it is believed that the diamonds may have been released and fallen to Earth.
While estimates indicate that hundreds of tons of conventional diamonds have been mined around the world since 1900, no black diamonds have been discovered in any of the conventional working diamond fields.
Black diamonds are considered to be particularly valuable due to the fact that they contain the same hardness as conventional diamonds; however, when placed under stress they actually are even harder.
At one time black diamonds were primarily valued for industrial uses, including uses as drill bits, due to their extreme hardness. That has changed in the last few years; however, as more and more people have begun to recognize the unique beauty of black diamonds.
As a result black diamonds have become extremely popular in the last few years. They are especially coveted for men’s rings and jewelry, especially men’s wedding rings. Men who have been uncomfortable with the thought of having a clear or white diamond in their wedding band over the years because they felt they were too feminine have found the perfect compromise with black diamonds.
Usually, black diamonds are used in pave settings and frequently are combined with white gold in order to highlight the unique beauty of the black diamond. When purchasing black diamonds it is important for consumers to make sure they do their research to ensure the diamond is in fact a true black diamond. Due to the fact that black diamonds are quite rare some jewelers will sell stones that have gone through a process in order to change the color or stones which have been irradiated and are not, in fact, true black diamonds at all.
Therefore, it is important to choose a jeweler which you feel you can trust when shopping for a black diamond. Ideally, it is best to choose a jeweler that can provide you with a certificate which will certify the authenticity of the black diamond before you make your purchase.
When shopping for a black diamond, look for a stone which is as black as possible but keep in mind that one of the unique charms of black diamonds are the fact that they are not perfect.
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