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Reference.org
Ballas
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<p>Ballas (or shot <a href="/facts/Bort/ooW3UH94">bort</a>) is a <a href="/facts/Diamond/IBUdnd1y">diamond</a> industry term for roughly spherical shards of non-<a href="/facts/Gemstone/kHffmvE3">gem</a>-grade diamond, mostly mined in <a href="/facts/Brazil/QHkG46GL">Brazil</a> and <a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq">South Africa</a>. </p><p>A ballas is an aggregate of diamond grains concentrically arranged with radiating structure into a roughly spherical stone with a fibrous texture and without throughgoing cleavage planes. Tougher and more difficult to cleave than crystalline stones, ballas are used as <a href="/facts/Industrial_diamonds/IBUdnd1y">industrial diamonds</a>. </p>