Methods Of Identifying Rough Diamonds

The first step is the visual examination in the identifying of the Rough Diamond. The Rough Diamond will display certain features characteristic of the rough diamond such as shape, feature, exterior, and the color. For this, a10x power jeweler’s loupe is very useful to look at the smaller surface. Apart from the visual identification, there are other steps to identify the distinct characteristics of the diamond. Along with the visual identification, these tests will help in identifying the Rough Diamond:

The four characteristics for which diamond is tested are hardness, specific gravity, and thermal conductivity. Here the things that you will need for the testing of the diamond:

• 10x power jewelers loupe
• Synthetic corundum plate and etching pencil
• Vial of heavy liquid having a specific gravity of 3.52 at room temperature.
• Thermal diamond tester
• Jewelers tweezers or other tool to hold the sample

Steps for identifying the Rough diamond:

• Hardness

  Diamond is the hardest material with a score of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Scratch test is the simplest traditional method to test the hardness of the mineral. So, if a mineral is unable to make a scratch mark on other mineral surface, then the mineral is of the same hardness as the other mineral. If it is able to make a scratch on the surface of the other mineral then it is more hard then the other mineral while if it itself is scratched, then it has hardness lower than the other mineral.

Specific Gravity

The diamond has a specific gravity of 3.52 and this characteristic of the Rough Diamond can be easily exploited with the help of other heavy liquids. For this test, a solution with specific gravity equal to the diamond should be taken. All the imitation stones will either rise or sink while the Rough Diamond remains suspended.

Thermal Conductivity

Diamond is an excellent conductor of heat and its thermal resistance is hundred times less than other imitations and gemstones. This characteristic can be analyzed from the fact that how quickly the diamond disperses the heat of another object. There are many simple and inexpensive instruments available for the testing of thermal conductivity of the diamond. They can be used to measure how quickly the heat is conducted by change in the sensor’s temperature. These instruments are compact, accurate, and easy to use.

So, by using the visual tests and the above-mentioned information, the identification of the Rough Diamond can be made. The tests can be performed using the process of elimination, which means if the material is harder than 9 on the Mohs hardness scale and has a specific gravity of 3.52, then it is unlikely that the material is not diamond. The third test will further confirm that it is diamond. The visual examination will let you confirm the same fact through characteristic surface features and shape of the Rough Diamond.

About the Author

Osmuminerals Ltd is ranked among the top exporters & suppliers of gold bars, gold dust, rough diamonds, zircon sand etc.

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