the uses for diamond tipped blades do go beyond masonary- you can get diamond impregnated blades for cutting metal, also. Most diamond blades are used for cutting concrete , brick, stone, block, tile, asphalt, fibercement siding, and terrazzo. There are many different styles of blades, and each has a semi-specific material to cut. Some blades require that they have a constant stream of water sprayed on them to cool the blades. Some are only for green, uncured concrete and asphalt. Some are for tile or porcelean only. The difference isn't the diamonds, but the material the blade is made out of. The medium that holds the diamonds in place in the blade is designed to wear at a different rate-depending on the material. Using a blade designed to cut block or cured concrete to cut asphalt will result in the blade galling up-basically you'll wear the exposed diamonds off, but the asphalt isn't abrasive enough to wear the medium down enough to get to the next layer of diamonds, ...
There are many types of diamond blade, and they have many uses, including cutting stone, concrete, asphalt, bricks, coal balls, glass, and ceramics in the construction industry.