How many different types of diamond are there?

Answer 1

There is only one type of diamond, a diamond. Diamond is a stone that can be cut into many different shapes, based on its size and the characteristics it possesses.

Another Answer

According to Wikipedia's Diamond entry, seven occurrences of the word 'type' appear in that entry:

• Types of impurities -- which determines the colour of a diamond
• Types and concentrations of nitrogen -- again colour
• Type of diamond called Carbonado -- a black diamond
• Impact-type microdiamonds -- indicators of ancient impact craters
• Types of volcanic pipes near which diamonds are sometimes found -- kimberlite or lamproite
• Gem-grade diamonds or industrial-grade diamonds -- two types of diamonds
• Synthetic or natural, irradiated or non-irradiated, each a type of diamond.

Finally, there are scientific classes of diamonds which include:

• Type I -- nitrogen at a concentration of 0.1%
• Type Ia -- 98% of gem-quality stones, a mixture of Type IaA and IaB.
  • Type IaA -- nitrogen atoms in pairs, which do not affect the diamond's colour
  • Type IaB -- large, even-numbered aggregates of nitrogen, imparting a yellow to brown tint
• Type Ib -- rare canary diamonds, only 0.1% of known natural diamonds. Also synthetic diamond containing nitrogen
• Type II - have no measurable nitrogen impurities
• Type IIa can be coloured pink, red or brown based on structural anomalities
• Type IIb diamonds -- are usually light blue due to boron impurities -- 0.1% of gem diamonds.