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Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Diamond is metastable at standard temperature and pressure: it converts to the chemically stable form graphite under those conditions, but at a negligible rate. Diamond has the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any natural material, properties that are used in major industrial applications such as cutting and polishing tools. In addition to its industrial uses, diamond is much sought-after as a gemstone for use in jewelry. Most natural diamonds have ages between 1 billion and 3.5 billion years and formed at depths between 150 and 250 kilometres in the Earth's mantle. They were then carried to the surface more recently in volcanic eruptions and deposited in igneous rocks known as kimberlites and lamproites. This photograph shows the real-color cathodoluminescence of a diamond, in a scanning electron microscope.Photograph credit: Pavel.Somov
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