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All About Diamonds: Origins, Mining, and Uses

Discover the fascinating world of diamonds, including their origins, mining process, and various uses. This comprehensive guide provides valuable information and stunning images from the American Museum of Natural History Diamond Exhibit.

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All About Diamonds: Origins, Mining, and Uses

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  1. Diamonds J.D. Price

  2. Images and much of the information here is from the American Museum of Natural History Diamond Exhibit, by Dr. George Harlow http://www.amnh.org

  3. Form Habit – a common natural growth geometry Trigons – the building blocks of a diamond

  4. Graphite Diamond Q: What element is represented by each sphere? Image from Pauling, 1970

  5. The carbon system Graphite - steep changes in energy for changes in pressure (dG/dP) Diamond - higher G at low pressure, but shallow dG/dP G is energy

  6. At P = 5 kbar

  7. Carbon phase diagram

  8. Diamond origins Examples of likely depths and origins for South African diamond deposits. Diamonds are formed in regions of the mantle at sufficiently high pressure. Diamonds may originate from even deeper sources in the mantle

  9. Diatreme The only locality to let you dig for your own diamonds: Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas This volcanic structure is a diatreme

  10. Diamonds in space White dwarf BPM 3793 0.6 size of the earth White dwarves are burned-out sun-sized stars Core is carbon, formed as the end product of fusion Metalfe et al, 2004 concluded from astroseismic measurements that it is 90% solid (5 E 29 kg or 1 E 34 Carats)

  11. Carat Diamonds were first discovered in India around 500 B.C. These were first weighed relative to the weight of a seed from the seed pod of the carob tree. 1 ct = 200 mg

  12. Modern diamond production

  13. Other Gems Ruby (Corundum) Sapphire (Corundum) Emerald (Beryl) Peridot (Olivine)

  14. Chrysoberyl BeAl2O4 Gemmy crystals Brown to green gemmy crystals found in pegmatite with corundum and beryl. Cat’s eye Needle-like inclusions reflect light. Also seen in tourmalines, scapolite, corundum, spinel and quartz but these must be designated as "tourmaline cat's eye", or "ruby cat's eye". Alexandrite Extreme pleochroism - goes from green-blue to purple depending on the angle of stone.

  15. Painite 6/m CaZrB(Al9O18) - Ca0.77Na0.19Al8.8Ti0.19Cr0.03Zr0.04B1.06O18 Rare mineral from Ohngaing, Mogok district, Myanmar (Burma). As of 2005, there were only twenty-five known specimens - now 1000’s Painite #12 Painite #6 See http://minerals.gps.caltech.edu/FILES/Visible/painite/Index.html for current info on painite discoveries. Painite #5

  16. Serendibite _ 1 Ca2(Mg,Al)6(Si,Al,B)6O20 - Ca2Mg4.5Al1.5Si3.6Al1.8B0.6O20 Rare mineral from Gangapitiya near Ambakotte, Ceylon Recently sold for about $14,300.00 per carat

  17. Benitoite _ 6 m2 BaTiSi3O9 Rare, deep blue-stone found only in California. Strongly fluorescent! Gem quality crystals even rarer. Small faceted stones are $500 - $3000 per carat Santa Rita Peak, San Benito, CA. Peridotite (source) is sparsely vegetated Nearby King City Asbestos Mine - Superfund site for serpentine asbestos 1.67 carats, $4,175 Africagems.com

  18. Diamondiferous material hosts Archon – 3.7 to 2.5 Ga, Proton – 2.5 -0.5 Ga, Tecton - younger

  19. Largest Uncut Stones • Cullinan - 3,106.75 carats - 1905, South Africa • Excelsior - 995.20ct. - 1893, South Africa • Star of Sierra Leone - 968.80ct. - 1972, Sierra Leone • Zale - 890.00ct. - 1984, Africa • Great Mogul - 787.50ct. - 1650, India • Woyie River - 770.00ct. - 1945, Sierra Leone • Presidente Vargas - 726.60ct. - 1938, Brazil • Jonker - 726.00ct. - 1934, South Africa • Reitz - 650.80ct. - 1895, South Africa • Unnamed - 620.14ct. - 1984, South Africa 3K carats = 600 g = 1.3 lbs

  20. Mining Ekati, NWT The big hole, Kimberly, SA Mirny, Siberia d=525m

  21. Separating

  22. Uses for diamond Jewelry Abrasion (stone cutting, polishing) Experimentation

  23. 4C’s • Gem stones are valued by four basic criteria • Color • Cut • Clarity • Carat weight #1 rule: in most cases you get what you pay for. If you ever decide to seriously buy a gem stone – get a 10x or better hand lens!

  24. Color Color is an important factor in the purchase of a diamond and can affect the price by 2-10% per letter*

  25. “Fancy diamonds” Colored stones are not popular in the US, but are heavily marketed in South America and Europe

  26. Cut Cut refers to shape, but its not necessarily the style that influences diamond cost

  27. Cutting

  28. Cut: the behavior of light A missed cut sends makes light reflect, and diamond loses brilliance A perfect cut sends makes light refract to the table, and diamond gains brilliance Cut is so important to the value of a diamond that it can affect the value by 25% to over 50%. 

  29. Clarity Clarity is a rarity factor that affects diamond value by 5 - 20% for each increment on the AGS diamond grading scale. In most diamonds purchased by consumers, the diamond has few to no features noticeable to the unaided eye.

  30. Carat • In the early 1900's the Metric Carat was established. 1 Carat = 0.2 gram • Full Carat: A diamond that weighs or rounds to 1.00 Carat. • Light Carat: A diamond that weighs slightly less than 1.00 Carat. Example .96 - .00. This IS NOT a full Carat. Diamonds in this range are priced less. • Magic Sizes: Diamonds that weigh-in exactly at or greater than a major size category. Each major size category marks a greater degree of rarity, and commands a higher price. Q: which of the four c’s are nature’s doing, and which are the gemologist’s doing?

  31. Synthesis An early GE diamond making press Today industrial (small unclear) diamonds are readily synthesized – gem quality is a little more difficult

  32. Adia Lifegem Gemisis Not pictured Tairus - Russian NAS and Thai venture Apollo Diamondview Spectrometer (tool to separate out synthetics)

  33. Substitutes Moissanite SiC Similar refractive properties Very hard (but not as hard as diamond) Absorbs more UV radiation Not combustible Q: Why the similar structure for diamond and moissanite (hint: look at the periodic table)?

  34. Substitutes Cubic Zirconia ZrO Similar refractive properties Hard (but not as hard as diamond) – rounded points Not as conductive Not combustible Q: What is non-scientific amount the cut stone diamond market (if a CZ or Moissonite gives the same brilliance, then why are diamonds so expensive)?

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