Lonsdaleite is a hexagonal polymorph of the carbon allotrope diamond, believed to form when meteoric graphite falls to Earth. The great heat and stress of the impact transforms the graphite into diamond, but retains graphite's hexagonal crystal lattice. Lonsdaleite was first identified from the Canyon Diablo meteorite at Barringer Crater (also known as Meteor Crater) in Arizona. It was first discovered in 1967. Lonsdaleite occurs as microscopic crystals associated with diamond in the Canyon Diablo meteorite; Kenna meteorite, New Mexico; and Allan Hills (ALH) 77283, Victoria Land, Antarctica meteorite. It has also been reported from the Tunguska impact site, Russia.
Lonsdaleite is also known as "hexagonal diamond." It is transparent brownish-yellow in color and has an index of refraction from 2.40 to 2.41, a specific gravity from 3.2 to 3.3, and a Mohs hardness of 7–8. The Mohs hardness of diamond is 10; the lower hardness of lonsdaleite is chiefly attributed to impurities and imperfections in the naturally occurring material.
References
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- Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.
- Frondel, C. & U.B. Marvin (1967), Lonsdaleite, a new hexagonal polymorph of diamond. Nature: 214: 587-589
- Frondel, C. & U.B. Marvin (1967), Lonsdaleite, a hexagonal polymorph of diamond, Am.Min.: 52