Carbon in its diamond form has been known since very ancient times.

The term diamond, which is a corruption of the Greek word adamas, “proper", "unalterable", "unbreakable, untamed", accurately describes the permanence of this crystallized form of carbon.

Diamonds are thought to have been first recognized and mined in India, where significant alluvial deposits of the stone could be found many centuries ago along the rivers Penner, Krishna and Godavari.

Diamonds have been known in India for at least three thousand years but most likely six thousand years.

Graphite, the name for the other crystalline form of carbon, is derived from the Greek verb graphein, “to write”, and reflects its property of leaving a dark mark when rubbed on a surface.

Graphite was long confused with both the metal lead and a superficially similar substance, the mineral molybdenite (molybdenum sulfate).