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Diamonds

This Science Minute was researched and written by Michael A., of Ithaca, NY.

You’ve probably heard someone say that diamonds are a girl's best friend. What you might not realize is that diamonds are used for a lot of things other than jewelry.

Diamonds are a natural form of the element carbon. They form deep down in the earth, about 100 miles below the surface, where high temperatures and high pressure cause carbon atoms to form tetrahedral bonds.

Diamonds are the hardest known natural substance. They are so hard that only other diamonds can be used to cut them!

Not all diamonds make pretty gemstones. In fact, only twenty percent of diamonds are suitable for cutting into gems. The other eighty percent are used for industrial purposes such as cutting glass, polishing, and drilling.

With all these uses, can you understand why anyone might like diamonds?