A team of researchers, led by Nester Korolev, is on a mission to uncover the hidden treasures of Earth’s deepest crust, with a focus on discovering new minerals in super-deep diamonds that could revolutionize our understanding of geological processes.
Unveiling the Secrets of Super-Deep Diamonds
A diamond from deep inside Earth, Nester Korolev is squinting at a diamond in the palm of his hand. As gems go, it’s nothing special: smaller than a grain of rice and full of impurities, it would fetch a poor price. But for researchers like Nester Korolev, those impurities are invaluable for the information they reveal about geological processes underway deep within Earth – all the more so given that some of them look unlike anything we have encountered before.
Super-deep diamonds are a type of diamond that forms at extremely high pressures, typically above 5 gigapascals.
They are found in the Earth's lower mantle and upper core.
These diamonds have unique characteristics, including high nitrogen content and distinct inclusions.
Research suggests they may provide valuable information about the Earth's interior.
For example, the presence of certain minerals in super-deep diamonds can indicate the existence of water deep within the Earth.
The Hunt for Unknown Minerals
Korolev’s team is part of a growing field of research focused on diamonds formed in Earth’s lower mantle. These diamonds contain tiny flecks of minerals that are helping scientists understand the inner workings of our planet. By studying these minerals, researchers can gain insights into the Earth’s composition, temperature, and pressure conditions deep within its core.
Diamonds are composed of pure carbon, crystallized in an isometric system.
They have exceptional hardness and thermal conductivity due to their strong covalent bonds.
The Mohs hardness scale ranks diamonds as a 10, making them the hardest substance known.
Their unique combination of physical properties makes diamonds useful for industrial applications, such as cutting tools and windows.
The team is particularly interested in discovering new minerals hidden within these super-deep diamonds. Korolev hopes to uncover a mineral that has never been seen before, which could provide significant breakthroughs in our understanding of geological processes. ‘I hope that we will discover a new mineral,’ he says.
Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances with specific chemical compositions and structures.
There are over 5,000 known minerals, each with unique properties and uses.
Common minerals include quartz, feldspar, and mica, while others like diamonds and rubies are highly valued for their beauty and rarity.
Minerals play crucial roles in various industries, including construction, electronics, and medicine.
They also have significant economic and environmental implications.
The Significance of Super-Deep Diamonds
Diamonds formed in the lower mantle are unlike those found in the Earth’s crust. They contain impurities such as silicon and calcium, which are not typically found in diamonds. These impurities provide valuable information about the conditions under which these diamonds were formed, including temperature and pressure.
By studying super-deep diamonds, scientists can gain insights into the Earth’s composition and evolution over billions of years. This knowledge can help us better understand natural processes that shape our planet, such as plate tectonics and volcanic activity.
The discovery of new minerals within these diamonds could also have significant implications for human activities, such as mining and resource extraction. Understanding the geological processes that shape our planet can inform more sustainable and responsible practices in these industries.
- newscientist.com | Inside the hunt for unknown minerals in super deep diamonds
