Resource: Diamonds Everywhere
Media Type:
QuickTime VR Video
Length: 1m 46s
Size: 4.9 MB
Through the persuasive power of Hollywood icons, motion pictures and socialites, diamonds have become a symbol of affluence, power and romance. Beyond their beauty, diamonds have attracted men and women wishing to display their social status and wealth. In addition, the widely successfully marketing campaign declaring "A diamond is forever" has ever since linked the precious gem with courtship and marriage. In this Nature video segment, learn about the social and cultural value of diamonds.
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Transcript (Rich Text Format Document)
Teachers' Domain, Diamonds Everywhere, published November 18, 2008, retrieved on ,
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/nat08.earth.geol.min.everywhere/
- Background Essay
- Questions for Discussion
- Standards
Diamonds are minerals that are valued for their durability, beauty, and rarity. They form deep in the earth under conditions of extreme heat and pressure, and are brought to the surface of the earth by the forces of volcanism and weathering. Generally, diamonds - and the rocks they’re found in - are very old. Studying diamonds, therefore, can help scientists reconstruct the processes that were central to the formation of the earth itself.
The physical properties of a diamond are determined more by the crystal structure of the diamond than by its composition - consider that diamond and graphite, despite their vastly different physical properties, are both composed of pure carbon. Every mineral is characterized a particular type of crystalline structure that is largely responsible for its physical properties.
Source: Nature: "Diamonds"
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Major corporate support for the Nature collection was provided by Canon U.S.A. and SC Johnson. Additional support was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the nation’s public television stations.




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