Facts About Black Diamonds by David Cowley

Facts About Black Diamonds by David Cowley
Black diamonds are also called carbonados diamonds. The Portuguese in Brazil coined the term carbonados in the mid-18th century. It derived from its visual similarity to porous charcoal. Black diamonds are found only in Brazil and the Central African Republic.
Approximately 600 tons of conventional diamonds have been mined, traded, polished since 1900. But not a single black diamond has been discovered in the world's mining fields. The geological settings where diamonds are found or mined are virtually identical with the one exception, the Black Diamond.
Smoke Diamond
Diamonds are created by very high heat and pressure. The only naturally occurring source of this type of environment on earth is under the earths curst. Conventional diamonds are mined from explosive volcanic rocks (kimberlites) that transport them from depths in excess of 100 kilometers by volcanic action. Where Black Diamonds are found, the geological settings are not compatible with the formation diamonds.
So how are Black Diamonds made? Stephen Haggerty and Jozsef Garai, both of Florida International University, believe that Black Diamonds originate in outer space. Black diamonds have been found to contain trace elements of nitrogen and hydrogen, which they claim are sure indicators of an extraterrestrial origin.
New research supports the claim by Haggerty showing that black diamonds formed in stellar supernovae explosions. Black diamonds were once the size of asteroids, a kilometer or more in diameter when they first landed on Earth.
The study published in 2006 analyzed the hydrogen in black diamond samples using infrared-detection instruments and found that the quantity indicated that the mineral formed in a supernova explosion prior to the formation of the Solar System. These diamonds were formed by carbon-rich cosmic dust in an environment near carbon stars. The diamonds were incorporated into solid bodies that subsequently fell to Earth as meteorites.
Many people around the world consider diamonds great treasures. Some diamonds are found naturally in a range of colors, and the colors can increase the value of the stone because of the rarity of the color. The colors range from pink to black. Black diamonds are some of the rarest diamonds in the world.
Black diamonds are not sparkling like those of other colors, but these jewels can make stunning jewelry. The value of these beautiful stones and their stunning appearance make them popular gifts. Jewelry made with these distinctive jewels have become increasingly popular in the last few years.
The black diamonds have many myths about them especially in India. Some people believe that these diamonds resemble the eyes of a snake so they were dedicated to an Indian god. One huge diamond made a perfect part for a statue of Buddha because of the black color. If you really want a piece of history then purchase a black diamond because it may be as old as the solar system itself.
About the Author
David Cowley has created numerous articles on Diamonds. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Diamonds. Visit Diamonds