It is thought its body transformed as a result of iron accumulating internally from swallowing soil.
Its body has been compressed deep under the ground. As a result, it is even harder than a diamond.
It is said that if an ONIX lives for over 100 years, its composition changes to become diamond-like.
The many small metal particles that cover this POKéMON's body reflect bright light well.
STEELIX lives even further underground than ONIX. This POKéMON is known to dig towards the earth’s core. There are records of this POKéMON reaching a depth of over six-tenths of a mile underground.
— Pokédex entries (via PokeAPI)