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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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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.
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.
Why is graphite softer than diamond?
The crystalline structure of graphite and diamond are very different.
Is there any mineral as hard as diamond?
Yes, there is one mineral as hard as diamond, which is called lonsdaleite. It is a type of carbon allotrope that has a hexagonal crystal structure like diamond, making it extremely hard.
