I'm sure you've all seen a diamond. It's very hard, very bright and very beautiful. Most of you have probably seen coal, too. It's dull black and it crumbles easily. Did you know that one doesn't come from the other?
Now a little chemistry lesson. Both are made from the element carbon; but that is the end of their similarities. The news is that diamonds don’t really come from coal.
Diamonds are formed under very high pressure. They are crystallised from magma, (Say it like Dr Evil would) which is formed when the Earth's crust is partially melted. They are usually associated with volcanic pipes in South Africa, where magma from the interior of the Earth 'escaped' through pipes leading off from the centre core of a volcano - a very long time ago, of course!
Over centuries and centuries, this magma was subjected to incredible pressure as more layers were deposited on top of it Eventually this pressure compresses the magma into a diamond.
Coal, on the other hand, is a general name for firm brittle carbonaceous rocks, which are derived from vegetable debris - the remains of fossil plants.
So although coal and diamond both contain carbon and were formed under very high pressure - they are actually entirely different substances. Incredible pressure could be applied to coal so it is further compressed but unfortunately, it is too impure to result in a perfect diamond.
Diamond facts: - The easiest way to spot the difference between a diamond or cubic zirconia is to weigh it. Cubic Zirconia weigh 55% more than diamonds.
- You can burn a diamond, if you can get it hot enough. Coal starts to burn when it gets to 400°C, but diamond won't ignite until it reaches about 800°C. Mind you, it's a very expensive way of heating your house!
- Are your lips thirsty for diamonds? Get glam, get glitzy, get made up this summer with Wet Shine Diamonds Lipstick from Maybelline. For the ultimate in glamorous, glistening lips! To win your very own Wet Shine Diamonds, click here.
Last updated: 30/04/2008
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I'm sure you've all seen a diamond. It's very hard, very bright and very beautiful. Most of you have probably seen coal, too. It's dull black and it crumbles easily. Did you know that one doesn't come from the other?
- The easiest way to spot the difference between a diamond or cubic zirconia is to weigh it. Cubic Zirconia weigh 55% more than diamonds.