The unusual hexagonal structure of the diamond could make it harder than most diamonds originating from Earth.

The strange diamonds were found in just four samples, all from northwest Africa.

More space bling

But the details of how these super-diamonds formed in space have remained somewhat mysterious.

Similar processes are used under controlled environments to produce materials for certain metals, semiconductors and other products.

The study was led by Tomkins and published Monday inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Tomkins says the space diamond sample provides a new process for industries to attempt to replicate.

“We don’t really know how hard lonsdaleite is,” Tomkins told CNET.

The material might be useful in mining or just for bragging rights about your wild hexagonal space bling.