Do you want to know what are the similarities and differences between diamond and graphite? In this post we present all the properties and characteristics of these minerals, in addition, we show a comparative table for your better understanding.
What is diamond and graphite?
Diamond is one of the most valuable gemstones in the world, it is considered a native crystalline mineral made up of 100% carbon (C) and due to its chemistry it is the hardest mineral on the Mohs scale. Diamonds normally form in the upper mantle at a depth of about 200 km and their most common colors are brown and yellow.
The graphite It is another mineral that belongs to the group of native minerals and is made up of 100% crystalline carbon (C). It is generally formed by regional metamorphism, in coal seams, and sometimes by hydrothermalism. Unlike diamond, this mineral has a very low Mohs hardness.
Diamond and graphite comparative table
It is observed that both diamond and graphite are minerals that belong to the group of native elements or minerals and that they are composed of 100% carbon, however, their formation environment is different, which makes them structurally different minerals.
| Characteristic | Diamond | Graphite |
|---|---|---|
| Ore Type | native mineral | native mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 10 | 1 to 2 |
| Specific Weight/density | 3.4 to 3.6 | 2.1 to 2.3 |
| Chemical composition | Carbon (C) | Carbon (C) |
| Color | Brown, yellow, transparent | dark grey, black |
| Crystal structure | isometric | Hexagonal |
| stripe color | colorless | black |
| Gloss | Adamantine | Metallic, Submetallic, Earthy |
| Diaphanousness | transparent, translucent | Opaque |
| cleavage | Octahedral in 4 directions | in one direction |
| Pressure | 500000 atmospheres | 5000 atmospheres |
| Temperature | 1050°C | 750°C |
| Geological environment | Upper mantle | Earth crust |
| Main uses | Precious stones, industrial abrasives, heat sinks | Containers resistant to heat, chemicals, pencil leads |
Differences between diamond and graphite
By analyzing the comparative table shown above of the properties of graphite and diamond, we can distinguish the following differences:
- Origin and formation : Diamond is formed in the upper mantle at a depth of 200 km, while graphite is formed in the earth’s crust by metamorphism or hydrothermalism processes.
- Training conditions : Diamond forms at very high pressures and temperatures (1050°C, 0.5 million atmospheres), while graphite forms at lower pressures and temperatures (750°C, 5 thousand atmospheres).
- Structure : Diamond crystallizes in the isometric system, while graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system.
- Mohs hardness : Diamond is the hardest mineral on the Mohs scale with a value of 10, while graphite is one of the least hard minerals with a value of up to 2.
- Specific weight and density : Diamond is a mineral with a higher value of density or specific weight (3.4 to 3.6), while graphite has a lower density (2.1 to 2.3).
- Cleavage and habit : Diamond usually appears as octahedral crystals, while graphite appears as small sheets.
- Colors : Diamond is a crystal that can occur in a range of shades such as (brown, coffee, yellow, blue, white, green, red, pink, orange, black, white, etc.) with brown and yellow being the most common colors. While graphite appears in dark black and gray tones.
- luster and clarity : The diamond has an adamantine luster, that is, it is very bright and is usually transparent to the eye. While the graphic has a metallic shine and is opaque, that is, it does not allow light to pass through.