lonsdaleite
Diamond's harder cousin
Lonsdaleite is a hexagonal form of carbon, structurally similar to diamond but with a different crystal lattice arrangement.
It forms naturally when meteorites containing graphite strike Earth, the intense heat and pressure transforming the carbon.
Sometimes called hexagonal diamond, lonsdaleite is theoretically harder than regular diamond, though natural samples are too small and impure to test this conclusively.
Crystalline carbon allotrope
- hexagonalSix-edged polygon's form
- fullereneCage-shaped carbon allotrope
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- nanotubeNanoscale carbon cylinder
buckminsterfullerene · carbon-12 · carbon-13 · isotope · covalent · tetrahedral · crystalline · polymorphism
Forceful contact or consequence
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
- asteroidSun-orbiting rocky mass
- extraterrestrialBeing from outer space
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
cosmic · bolide · fireball · airburst · collision · interstellar · space · pressure
Six-edged polygon's form
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- facetPlane on cut stone
refraction · brilliance · clarity · geometric · prismatic · stacking · polycrystalline · twinning
Violent sudden disturbance
- pressureForce upon contact
- impactForceful contact or consequence
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- transformationThorough change in form
synthesis · metamorphism · deformation · laboratory · CVD · static · dynamic · gigapascal
Inward cut or setback
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- abrasiveRough enough to erode
- toughnessResilient durability under strain
- durabilityResistance to wear
resistance · superhard · ultrahard · adamantine · rigidity · strength · compressive · Vickers
graphite
Crystalline carbon allotrope
- hexagonalSix-edged polygon's form
- fullereneCage-shaped carbon allotrope
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
nanotube · buckminsterfullerene · carbon-12 · carbon-13 · isotope · covalent · tetrahedral · crystalline · polymorphism · cubic
impact
Forceful contact or consequence
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
- asteroidSun-orbiting rocky mass
- extraterrestrialBeing from outer space
shock · cosmic · bolide · fireball · airburst · collision · interstellar · space · pressure · kinetic
hexagonal
Six-edged polygon's form
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
facet · refraction · brilliance · clarity · geometric · prismatic · stacking · polycrystalline · twinning · microstructure
shock
Violent sudden disturbance
- pressureForce upon contact
- impactForceful contact or consequence
- compressionForcing into smaller space
transformation · synthesis · metamorphism · deformation · laboratory · CVD · static · dynamic · gigapascal · extreme
indentation
Inward cut or setback
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- abrasiveRough enough to erode
- toughnessResilient durability under strain
durability · resistance · superhard · ultrahard · adamantine · rigidity · strength · compressive · Vickers · cutting
- carbon formsgraphite, diamonds, fullerene, graphene, carbon nanotubes
- hard materialstungsten carbide, corundum, steel, titanium, tungsten
- hexagonal mineralsquartz, calcite, beryl, corundum, hematite
- meteorite minerals
- carbonateslimestone, aragonite, dolomite, calcite, magnesite
- Meteorite Componentsiron-nickel, presolar grains, matrix