The reality about Lonsdaleite
The C polymorph.
Lonsdaleite, also known as hexagonal diamond, is a rare and unusual form of diamond. It forms when the carbon atoms in graphite are subjected to extremely high pressures, such as those that occur during a meteorite impact. The resulting material has a unique hexagonal crystal structure, unlike the more common cubic crystal structure of regular diamond.
Lonsdaleite is an allotrope of carbon, first discovered in 1967 in the Canyon Diablo meteorite crater in Arizona. Named after the British crystallographer Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, who identified its unique hexagonal crystal structure. It can be up to 58% harder than diamond under ideal conditions.
However, due to its rarity, it is not used as frequently as other materials, such as cubic boron nitride or synthetic diamonds, which are also incredibly hard but easier to obtain and work with commercially.
Lonsdaleite forms when the carbon atoms in graphite are subjected to extremely high pressures, such as those that occur during a meteorite impact. Therefore, it is typically found in the remains of meteorite impact sites, such as the Canyon Diablo meteorite crater in Arizona. However, due to its rarity, it has only been found in a few locations on Earth and is not known to exist in significant quantities anywhere in the universe.
Lonsdaleite is a rare form of diamond first discovered in 1967. It is the hardest known mineral, with a variety of hardness rating of 4 to 10 on the Mohs scale. Due to its rarity and extraordinary strength, lonsdaleite can be quite expensive.
The cost of lonsdaleite varies depending on size and quality, typically ranging from $200 to $2,000 per carat for small stones and can reach several thousand dollars per carat for larger pieces.
Properties of Lonsdaleite
• Hardness: Lonsdaleite is believed to be even harder than regular diamond, with a hardness of about 9.5 to 10 on the Mohs scale. However, it can have much lower hardness, depending on the impact pressure at which it is formed and the atomic stability it develops during rapid crystallization.
• Tenacity: Despite its hardness, lonsdaleite is more brittle than regular diamond, meaning it is more prone to breaking or chipping under impact or mechanical stress.
• Color: Lonsdaleite is typically black, yellow or brown in color, unlike regular diamond, which is colorless.
• Transparency: Like normal diamond, lonsdaleite can be transparent. However, some forms of lonsdaleite have demonstrated complete opacity.
• Thermal conductivity: Lonsdaleite is a good thermal conductor, meaning it can transfer heat quickly and efficiently.
Can Lonsdaleite be Made in a Laboratory?
The answer is yes; however, extreme conditions are required to do so. Lonsdaleite can only form under pressures above 58 gigapascals (GPa) at temperatures above 1,500°C, much higher than the pressures required for standard diamonds. To achieve these conditions on Earth, specialized equipment would be needed, such as powerful lasers or gas cannons capable of producing shock waves with sufficient intensity to create this type of environment artificially within a laboratory.
In conclusion, although creating artificial lonsdaleite may not be feasible due to its extreme forming requirements within our current technological capabilities, there have been successful attempts using advanced methods such as laser ablation or impact compression techniques, which could bring us closer to be able to replicate this material synthetically in the near future.
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