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Diamonds found in nature
have the following characteristics that can be used for field
testing:
- Occurs as octahedral (cubic), rounded
crystals.
- Can be colorless, yellow, brown, gray,
green and black due to the presence of impurities.
- Optically, pure diamonds are transparent
with adamantine luster (high index of refraction) and strong
dispersion of light.
- Very hard, ranking 10 on the Moh's
scale.
- Has a density close to 3.5 grams per
cubic centimeter.
- Exhibits perfect cleavage, showing
crystalline planes.
- Insoluble in hydrochloric acid or
nitric acid.
- Infusible, because diamonds have a
high melting point. Diamonds burn with difficulty, giving
off carbon dioxide only at temperatures above 800 degrees
Celsius, under ambient pressure.
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