Carbonado
Variety C
Also called Black diamond
About it
Black, porous lumps of tiny diamond grains bonded together, tougher than single crystals. Found only in placers in Brazil and the Central African Republic; its origin is still debated.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Diamond variety
- Formula
- C
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 10
- Lustre
- dull
- Crystal system
- Isometric (cubic)
- Colours
- black, dark grey
- Transparency
- opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; porous aggregate, very tough
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.