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Worldbuilding

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    $\begingroup$ Are applications #1 and #3 possible using natural diamonds? I'm familiar with synthetic diamond and diamond-like coatings for these characteristics, but it's unclear to me whether natural diamond crystals could be effectively used for these purposes. $\endgroup$
    – feetwet
    Commented Jan 22, 2017 at 19:07
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    $\begingroup$ @feetwet, since this is a diamond deposit unlike any known in earthly geology (unless DeBeers is really good at keeping secrets!), we can only speculate on the crystal quality. #1 needs low, low defects, whereas bearings and heat xfer aren't quite so fussy. $\endgroup$
    – Catalyst
    Commented Jan 22, 2017 at 19:13
  • $\begingroup$ Silicon semiconductors are shaped in manufacture. Presumably synthetic diamond semiconductors are also shaped during manufacture. Natural diamonds would be unlikely to have the exact structure that they need. High quality is possible, but not with the desired pathways. $\endgroup$
    – Brythan
    Commented Jan 22, 2017 at 19:40
  • $\begingroup$ @Brythan, diamond has a cubic crystal structure and it cleaves easily. If there are nice big (inch or larger) diamonds for cheap, those can be cleaved into flat pieces, especially thin flat pieces, pretty much what's needed for IC fabrication. If the crystals are even bigger, so much the better! $\endgroup$
    – Catalyst
    Commented Jan 22, 2017 at 21:11
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    $\begingroup$ "This is just scratching the surface." Heh – I see what you did there ;) $\endgroup$
    – feetwet
    Commented Jan 23, 2017 at 1:26