Why Are Diamonds So Expensive? Discover the Secrets!

Transcript

00:00Diamonds are among the most expensive gemstones in the world.

00:03You'd be out of luck trying to find one in your backyard, though.

00:06Most are mined in one of just a few countries.

00:08The largest diamond ever discovered was over 3,000 carats and came from South Africa.

00:14But why do these sparkly stones cost so much money?

00:18Let's take a closer look at where diamonds come from and how much they cost to mine.

00:22To understand why diamonds are so expensive, it helps to know how they're formed.

00:26Diamonds are made almost entirely of carbon atoms.

00:30Which aren't particularly rare.

00:32Carbon is found all throughout the Earth's crust and is also the basic building block of life.

00:37In other words, it's pretty easy to get a hold of.

00:40Diamonds, however, are another story.

00:42They form deep within the Earth where there is intense heat and pressure.

00:46Specifically, diamonds need at least 4.5 gigapascals of pressure.