Diamond is one of the most well known of the gemstones and one of the most expensive. However, many people are not fully aware of exactly what diamond is. Diamond is composed entirely of the mineral carbon and is most known and desired for it's white or colorless qualities. Impure diamonds also exist is pale shades of yellow, red, orange, blue, green, and brown. The luster of diamond is adamantine, which is a term actually named after diamond. Diamond is the hardest mineral in existence, ranking ten on the Mohs Hardness Scale. In fact, the only substance that can cut diamond is. . . diamond! Diamonds are also well known as the birthstone of April.

The first diamonds were found in India in the 1600s; discovered in Brazil in 1729, South Africa in 1867, and at Pikes Peak and Arkansas in 1906 (Chesterman 354). Throughtout the years many of these mines have been exaussted and are no longer producing diamonds. Major diamond producing countries include: Australia, CIS, Zaire, South Africa, and Brazil (Chesterman 355). Arkansas and Colorado are also sources of diamonds.