Tag Archives: diamonds
The case of the missing diamonds
The case of the missing diamonds A Washington University physicist practiced at finding tiny diamonds in stardust from the pre-solar universe has repeatedly failed to find them in Younger Dryas sedimentary layers, effectively discrediting the hypothesis that an exploding comet … Continue reading
Huge, rare precious Diamonds formed in pockets of liquid metal
The Centenary Diamond, weighing in at 273.85 carats Huge diamonds reveal what Earth looks like 750 kilometers below the surfaceBreakthrough research led by GIA Postdoctoral Research Fellow Evan Smith examines diamonds of exceptional size and quality to uncover clues about … Continue reading
Large, rare diamonds offer window into inner workings of Earth’s mantle
Breakthrough research examines diamonds of exceptional size and quality to uncover clues about Earth’s geology. The researchers studied the unique properties of diamonds with similar characteristics to famous stones such as the Cullinan, Constellation and Koh-i-Noor to advance our understanding … Continue reading
Diamonds turn nuclear waste into nuclear batteries
A battery crafted from a new man-made diamond could last for more than 5,000 years, according to new research. The batteries could be used to power equipment that needs to run reliably for a long time, including pacemakers, drones, satellites … Continue reading
Diamonds pinpoint start of colliding continents
Optical photomicrograph of a sulfide-inclusion-bearing rough diamond from Botswana. Jewelers abhor diamond impurities, but they are a bonanza for scientists. Safely encased in the super-hard diamond, impurities are unaltered, ancient minerals that can tell the story of Earth’s distant past. … Continue reading
Geologist Discovers Plant that only grows near Diamonds
Rare plant only grows over diamond deposits – and could make gemstone discovery much cheaper A species of plant in Liberia could point towards the location of diamonds A thorny and palm-like plant in West Africa could soon become a … Continue reading
Water trapped inside diamonds gives us a peek at the Earth?s mantle
Sulfide inclusion-bearing rough diamonds from the Jwaneng Mine, Botswana. This optical photomicrograph of a rough diamond shows the natural diamond growth surface. Below the surface, at the center, is a brass-colored hexagonal shaped grain of iron sulfide surrounded by an … Continue reading
Diamonds can be used to date the origin of modern plate tectonics
Archean cratons in South Africa have yielded gem diamonds such as these specimens from the GIA Museum?s Oppenheimer Student Collection. The loose crystals range from 1.24 to 22.32 ct. Photo by Orasa Weldon. The chemical and thermal history of the … Continue reading
Why have so many huge diamonds been found recently?
The Lesedi La Rona, a tennis ball-sized gem found in Botswana, The huge rough diamond that went on sale at auction on Wednesday was one of three big diamonds found recently after a break of more than a century. On … Continue reading
Ultra-thin slices of diamonds reveal geological processes
Diamonds in a new study reveal geological processes. Comparison of natural diamond morphologies: a 15.96 cteuhedral octahedron (left) and a 4.82 ct rounded resorbed octahedron (right). Diamonds are not only beautiful and valuable gems, they also contain information of the … Continue reading