Diamonds are minerals, not rocks. A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure. Diamonds meet all these criteria.
Diamonds are composed of carbon atoms arranged in a specific crystal structure known as a diamond lattice. This structure gives diamonds their exceptional hardness and other unique properties.
Rocks, on the other hand, are aggregates of one or more minerals. For example, granite is a rock composed of minerals like quartz, feldspar, and mica. Since diamonds are individual minerals and not aggregates of multiple minerals, they are classified as minerals rather than rocks.
In summary, diamonds are minerals because they are naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a specific chemical composition and crystalline structure.