Diamond vs Graphite
| Property | Diamond | Graphite |
|---|---|---|
| Formel | C | C |
| Kristallsystem | Cubic (Isometric) | N/A |
| Mineralklasse | 01 Native Elements | N/A |
| Mohshärte | 10.0 | N/A |
| Farbe | Colorless, yellow, brown, blue, green, pink | N/A |
| Glanz | Adamantine | N/A |
| Strichfarbe | None | N/A |
| Transparenz | Transparent | N/A |
| Spaltbarkeit | Perfect octahedral {111} | N/A |
| Bruch | Conchoidal | N/A |
Key Differences
- ◆ Diamond (hardness 10) is the hardest natural mineral; graphite (hardness 1–2) is one of the softest — yet both are pure carbon.
- ◆ Diamond has a tetrahedral sp3 crystal structure; graphite has layered sp2 sheets held by weak van der Waals forces.
- ◆ Diamond is transparent with adamantine luster; graphite is opaque with metallic to dull luster.
- ◆ Diamond is an electrical insulator; graphite is a good electrical conductor.
- ◆ Diamond forms under extreme pressure in the mantle; graphite forms at low pressure in metamorphic rocks.