How Is a Diamond Made?

To go back to the start of how a diamond is made, it begins with carbon atoms that have crystallized. These carbon atoms do their crystallizing inside of a rock called kimberlite. Kimberlite may also be called blue ground or yellow ground. The kimberlite itself is found beneath the earth’s crust and infused inside old volcanic matter.

• The process of diamond creation all begins deep down inside the earth in a place called the mantle. This is approximately 90 miles beneath the earth’s surface, where temperatures are at least 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.


• Carbon-containing minerals form together under high pressure and begin to create the diamond. This is not something that happens overnight. This process can take anywhere from 1 billion to 4 billion years.


• In order for the carbon atoms to crystallize, the atoms infuse with a rock called kimberlite, which is made from magma. Kimberlite is formed from the cooling of magma, which you find in volcanic eruptions.


• The amount of temperature and pressure needed to create a diamond is found in 2 places on earth. The lithospheric mantle, found below stable continental plates of the earth and at the spots where meteorites have struck.


• Some diamonds are brought to earth directly from a meteorite, while others as explained, have formed from the meteorite along with other earth elements.


• In order for these diamonds to be pushed up to the earth’s surface, there must be a strong volcanic eruption. The magma from the volcano must have originated at a depth where diamonds could be formed.


• Magma does not contain diamonds. Magma just provides the force needed to carry these deep-formed rock and minerals to the top.


• Natural diamonds are not man-made and created in some work shop. Diamonds are created miles beneath the earth through a very specific process to get a brilliant rock.