3D models

Diamond

Diamond is made from carbon atoms and is one of the hardest materials found on Earth. Each carbon atom is attached to 3 other carbon atoms in a pyramid-like shape.

Lonsdalelite

Lonsdaleite is also made from carbon atoms, but arranged differently to diamond. It is only formed naturally under extreme conditions, with very high temperatures and pressures, and has been found in meteorites.

Buckminsterfullerene (Buckyball)

Buckyballs are made from 60 carbon atoms arranged in the shape of a soccer ball. Buckyballs can be found in outer space, or made in a laboratory on Earth.

Sodalite

Unlike other crystal structures on this page, sodalite is not made of carbon, but from a range of elemental building blocks including silicon, aluminium, sodium, and oxygen.