How are diamonds formed??

Question: How are diamonds formed??
- Keywords:
  diamond
Asked by emmilyyyy to Charlie, Eoin, Jemma, Julian, Steve on 20 Mar 2011.
- Jemma Ransom answered on 17 Mar 2011:
  
  Diamonds are a form of carbon (the other two are graphite which is the lead stuff in pencils and buckminster fullerene which is a football shpe made out of carbon atoms). It forms deep under the ground where there is very high pressure and temperature, this is why we have to mine to get at diamonds.
- Julian Rayner answered on 17 Mar 2011:
  
  Hi emmilyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Sorry, not a geologist – but my understanding is by extreme pressure on minerals containing high levels of carbon, since diamonds are mostly carbon, just like coal.
- Stephen Moss answered on 17 Mar 2011:
  
  Hi Emmilyyy
  
  Diamonds are formed when huge crushing forces in the earth, over periods of millions of years, cause carbon atoms to pack together into crystals.
- Eoin Lettice answered on 17 Mar 2011:
  
  Hi emillyy, I’m not a geologist but diamonds were formed when carbon in the earths crust came under intense pressure.
  I guess the ingredients for a diamond is carbon, lots of time, lots of heat and lots of pressure.
  
  Eoin
- Charlie Ryan answered on 20 Mar 2011:
  
  hi emily i don’t really know sorry! I guess they are formed deep underground as the earth above squashes some carbon, but i don’t really know. Try a geologist!

Question: How are diamonds formed??