a thermally stable diamond compact which has an alloy of liquidus above 700 ° c . bonded to a surface thereof . the alloy contains at least 40 percent by weight of silver or gold or a combination thereof and 1 to 10 percent by weight of an active metal selected from the group of tungsten , titanium , zirconium , hafnium , vanadium , niobium , tantalum , chromium and molybdenum and having a liquidus temperature above 700 ° c .