DIAMOND
Originating from the Greek word adamas, used to describe the hardest substance
known to man, diamonds are formed from atoms of carbon subjected to extreme
pressure and temperature. It is a common misconception that diamonds take
hundreds of years to form. In fact, the stones themselves are formed relatively q
quickly — the invention of synthetic diamonds suggests the actual process take
approximately two weeks. It is the journey from the inner layers of the earth to a
level that can be mined which takes billions of years.