kimberlite

Origin of Blue Diamonds Discovered

DCO researchers analyzed dozens of rare, expensive blue diamonds to find the origin of these elusive gemstones. Mineral inclusions trapped inside the diamonds reveal that the gems have a deep and watery past. These diamonds formed in the lower mantle, from pieces of oceanic crust that sunk into the mantle through subduction.

Content tagged with “kimberlite”Showing 1-9 of 9 results

All Kimberlites Erupted from the Same Deep Reservoir 16 October 2019 Feature

Compared to other types of volcanic rocks that erupt at Earth’s surface, kimberlites are unique.…

Origin of Blue Diamonds Discovered 1 August 2018 Feature

Experts judge a diamond’s worth by the four Cs, “color, clarity, cut, and carat weight,” and blue…

The ‘Kimberlite Bloom’ During Pangea’s End: Caused by Mantle Cooling Or Deep Carbon Effects? 19 January 2018 Feature

To understand the conditions that created this bloom, DCO members Sebastian Tappe, Malcolm…

Carbonatite Magma Evolves during Its Trip From the Deep Mantle 10 May 2017 Feature

Carbonatites, and other carbon-rich magmas that originate hundreds of kilometers below Earth’s…

Diamond Formation in Two Stages, 1 Billion Years Apart 25 August 2014 Feature

Natural diamonds form deep in Earth’s mantle and can remain there for billions of years. Brought to…

Carbon Isotope Fractionation in Earth’s Mantle 4 June 2014 Feature

Stable isotopes of carbon are powerful tools used to quantify the abundance of carbon within Earth’…

Clues to Carbonado's Enigmatic Origin 15 February 2012 Feature

Carbonado is a natural polycrystalline diamond variety with unusual characteristics such as low 13C…

Diamond Dissolution Morphology Yields Clues to Mantle Fluids 15 February 2012 Feature

Dissolution features commonly observed on natural diamonds hold clues to the conditions the…

Messenger from the Deep 15 February 2011 Feature

For the first time, X-ray diffraction techniques that are both extremely high-resolution and non-…