This abrasive is the densest form of crystallized carbon, the hardest substance known. It occurs most commonly as well-developed crystals in volcanic pipes or in alluvial deposits. Bort (boart or borts) sometimes refers to all diamonds not suitable for gems, or it may refer to off-color, flawed, or impure diamonds not fit for use for gems or most other industrial applications, but suitable for the preparation of diamond grain and powder for use in lapping or the manufacture of most diamond grinding wheels. This type of bort is also called crushing bort or fragmented bort.