diamond: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 2, 2026

News •

British TV’s Working Class Problem Is At Both Junior & Senior Level — Diamond Report • Oct. 28, 2026, 5:00 AM ET (Deadline)

A tiny defect in a crystal reveals a big quantum surprise • Oct. 23, 2026, 6:35 AM ET (Science Daily)

Diamonds aren’t forever any more • Oct. 20, 2026, 6:05 AM ET (The Telegraph)

Quantum calculations reveal how spin defects lose energy • Oct. 15, 2026, 11:40 AM ET (Phys.org)

Photos and Videos

The most popular gemstone

An uncut diamond in rock

Alluvial diamond mine in Australia

Micrograph, taken with a transmission electron microscope, showing the atomic structure of a diamond surface. A spacing of about 0.1 nanometre is clearly resolved.

Aerial view of the Argyle Diamond Mine open pit in Western Australia, showing terraced, stepped layers of earth surrounded by sparse vegetation.

synthetic diamond

History of diamond mining in South Africa

How diamonds can be made from methane

Exploring Antwerp, Belgium

Fascinating facts about crystals

What is life like in Mumbai?

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Topics

Today in History—January 26: World’s Largest Diamond Found…and Thrown Out Blood diamond French Blue Great Table diamond Cullinan II Nūr ol-ʿEyn industrial diamond How are diamonds made?Is diamond the hardest substance on Earth?Great Star of Africa sulfur fullerene zinc iron arsenic lead gold copper graphene selenium

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Key People

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Barney Barnato

British financier

Sir Ernest Oppenheimer

Sir Ernest Oppenheimer

South African industrialist

Basalt sample returned by Apollo 15, from near a long sinous lunar valley called Hadley Rille. Measured at 3.3 years old.

(Bed) Rocks and (Flint) Stones

ore. iron ore minerals, rock, metal, metallic iron

Rocks, Minerals, and More Quiz