How are diamonds formed?

Not sure why this is in the internet scams area.

Formation

Diamonds are formed in numerous different ways. One way they are formed is by prolonged exposure of carbon-bearing materials to high pressure at comparatively low temperature. Diamonds are also developed from many miles below the Earth surface. Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common belief of hot and cold; something that is hotter has the greater temperature. On Earth, the formation of diamonds is possible because there are regions deep within the Earth that are at a high enough pressure and low enough temperature that the formation of diamonds is thermodynamically favorable.[2] Beneath thick continental crust ( in the lithospheric mantle of cratons), diamonds form starting at depths of about 150 kilometers (90 miles),[2] where pressure is roughly 5 gigapascals and the temperature is around 1200 degrees Celsius (2200 degrees Fahrenheit). Diamonds rise to the Earth surfaces in molten rock, that commence at substantial intensity. Diamonds cannot form beneath oceanic crust because the oceanic mantle is too hot at the appropriate depth. Diamonds contain tiny amounts of other elements dramatically change the electrical properties of diamonds. Thick continental lithosphere is cooler than asthenosphere at the same depth, reaching the required pressure at a low enough temperature for diamond stability. Long residence in the cratonic lithosphere allows diamond crystals to grow larger.

Learn more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamonds#Formation

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by Anonymous on February 3rd, 2007

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How are diamonds formed?

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