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Lonsdaleite is formed within meteorites and found when the meteorites land on earth. This is another alltrope of carbon, but with a different -- Hexagonal dihexagonal dipyramidal -- crystal structure.

It is always softer than a diamond, because a diamond's crystal structure maximizes the carbon's valance -- four -- into its rigid tetrahedral network of covalent bonds on eight sides.

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10y ago
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5mo ago

Lonsdaleite is softer than diamond when impacted at certain angles. Its structure makes it more susceptible to cleavage compared to diamond, leading to potentially lower scratch resistance and hardness under specific conditions.

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Q: When is lonsdaleite softer than a diamond?
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Related questions

What is the density of lonsdaleite?

The density of lonsdaleite, which is a type of carbon allotrope, is approximately 3.2 g/cm^3. Lonsdaleite is a hexagonal diamond structure with carbon atoms arranged in a different configuration, giving it higher hardness than regular diamond.


What is stronger than a diamond?

Wurtzite Boron Nitride (w-BN) is a bit harder and stronger than diamonds. However, lonsdaleite (also called Hexagonal Diamond) is 58% harder than a diamond!


What natural mineral is harder than a diamond?

The natural mineral harder than diamond is called lonsdaleite. It is a hexagonal allotrope of carbon and can be found in meteorites or in locations where high-energy events such as volcanic eruptions have occurred.


What are the geometric shapes of the carbon allotropes?

Diamond,Graphite,Lonsdaleite, Buckminsterfullerene


What mineral is softer than a diamond?

all minerals


Is lonsdaleite the hardest material?

Yes, lonsdaleite is currently considered one of the hardest materials known, even harder than diamond. It is a hexagonal allotrope of carbon that can be found in nature, mainly in meteorites. Its hardness is due to its unique crystal structure, which provides exceptional strength and scratch resistance.


Is there a stronger mineral than diamond?

Yes, there are a few minerals that are stronger than diamond. Wurtzite boron nitride and lonsdaleite are both harder than diamond on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. However, these minerals are very rare and not commonly found in nature.


Other than diamond hardest naturally occurring substance?

The hardest naturally occurring substance after diamond is lonsdaleite, also known as hexagonal diamond. It is a rare form of carbon with a hexagonal crystal structure that is even harder than regular diamond due to its unique arrangement of atoms.


Which is the hardest substace available on earth?

Diamond has always been considered the hardest natural substance in the world. However, wurtzite boron nitride and mineral lonsdaleite have recently been discoverd and are much harder than diamond.


Is coal stronger than diamond?

No, coal is not stronger than diamond. Diamond is one of the hardest known natural materials, while coal is much softer and less durable.


Are diamonds softer or harder than copper?

Diamond is the hardest known natural mineral on earth, raking top or 10 on the Mohs Scale of hardness. Copper ranks 2.5-3 on the same scale, rating it as much softer than diamond.


What are some of the hardest natural materials known to man?

Lonsdaleite, diamond, and wurtzide boron nitrid. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16610-diamond-no-longer-natures-hardest-material.html