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To: TADSLOS
Here is the sad truth about diamonds. Diamond is an inorganic form of carbon. So is graphite. Diamond is formed under great pressure and temperature and it is mineralogically unstable at STP (standard temperature and pressure) All diamonds begin to break down with time. The oldest known diamonds have dark-colored imperfections within their structure. That's where the diamond lattice is reverting to graphite. Given enough time, all diamonds will become graphite at STP, fit only as a pencil lead.
12 posted on 02/18/2004 8:22:20 AM PST by capitan_refugio
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To: capitan_refugio
Given enough time, all diamonds will become graphite at STP, fit only as a pencil lead.

LOL, I'll remind my wife to wear her matching eraser earrings when we celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary in geologic time.

17 posted on 02/18/2004 8:26:54 AM PST by TADSLOS (Right Wing Infidel since 1954)
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To: capitan_refugio
Given enough time, all diamonds will become graphite at STP, fit only as a pencil lead.

How depressing. Did you have to post this!!!?

29 posted on 02/18/2004 9:01:50 AM PST by Lucy Lake
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To: capitan_refugio
So we should sue the bastards at DeBeers for advertizing that a "diamond is forever"!
32 posted on 02/18/2004 10:25:14 AM PST by zeugma (The Great Experiment is over.)
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To: capitan_refugio
The oldest known diamonds have dark-colored imperfections within their structure.

Which ones are those? Any idea how they're dated? All diatremes I'm aware of are very old.

44 posted on 02/18/2004 9:55:22 PM PST by Bernard Marx (In theory there's no difference between theory and practice. But in practice there is.)
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To: capitan_refugio
really? I was under the impreassion thst the valence bonds of carbon in the adamantine configuration were chemically inert and very stable at STP.
48 posted on 02/18/2004 10:03:33 PM PST by King Prout (I am coming to think that the tree of liberty is presently dying of thirst.)
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To: capitan_refugio
So what you're sayin' is that "a diamond is NOT forever"?
68 posted on 02/20/2004 6:41:59 AM PST by myheroesareDeadandRegistered
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