Is C 60 fullerite harder than diamond?

Raman spectra of C ₆₀ fullerite at pressures up to 37 GPa with shear deformation are studied. We have found two states at high pressures, that persist after pressure release and have various transparencies in the near IR region. The nontransparent state is formed at 6-18GPa and has a Raman spectrum with broadened bands at frequencies close to those of the initial fullerite. The transparent state was obtained at pressures higher than 18GPa, and the Raman bands are broadened and overlapping in comparison with those of the nontransparent state. We suppose that C ₆₀ molecules persist in both states. The transparent state of fullerite shows a hardness higher than that of diamond.