Consumers are always hearing that diamonds are forever. When a large crystal was discovered in Western Australia, surrounding a deposit of diamonds, the old cliché was suddenly provided with new truth. This is because tests indicated that the diamonds encased inside the crystal are the oldest known diamonds to be in existence in the world.According to the tests which were conducted on the diamonds, the small gemstones are most likely around 4 billion years old.
The news was certainly of worth to the gemstone industry; however, scientists and historians as well as geologists were also astounded by the news because it provided a rare and unique glimpse in the geologic past of the Earth. This time period has always been one of controversy in the scientific world. The discovery of diamonds which have been dated to be not millions of years old, but billions of years old have certainly provided the opportunity to have some of those questions answered.
One of the most surprising aspects surrounding the discovery of the diamonds is the fact that until they were unearthed, no one would really have been able to guess that they were actually present. The ancient diamonds were discovered in the Jack Hills region, which is situated in Western Australia, near Perth. The red hills in this region have long been appreciated for their beauty but certainly no one suspected what they sheltered.
According to research conducted in the area, it appears that molten lava seas may have covered Earth at one time and then cooled rapidly. Plate tectonics may have also played a role in the development of the diamonds. According to this theory, large shelves within the crust of the Earth may already have begun to move; stimulating geologic activity.
Geologists have certainly been shocked by the discovery of the ancient diamonds within the crystal. The diamonds were actually discovered encased in zircon, a material which is quite stable and typically forms at temperatures that range between around 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit. Once discovered, the diamonds were easy to age due to the fact that zircon is not shifted by geological processes after it has been crystallized. This fact made the process of dating the diamonds much easier than would have been the case if they were discovered in any other type of material.
The age of the diamonds, nearly 4 billion years old, would seem to be almost as old at the planet itself, which is believed to be some 4.5 billion years old. The diamonds are estimated to be approximately 1 billion yeas older than diamonds which have previously been discovered in any other rock.
Overall, the diamonds discovered within the zircon crystal were not large. Some 50 gems were eventually discovered inside the crystal; however, even the largest of the diamonds measures only a mere 70 microns. This is approximately the width of a single human hair. As such, they are practically invisible to the naked eye and can best be seen beneath a microscope.
The discovery of the diamonds has created much excitement in the geology world; as geologists struggle to determine the implications the existence of the diamonds could have on their understanding of the conditions which existed in the early history of Earth. This is because diamonds are believed to be only able to form under very strict circumstances. For example, scientists indicate that diamonds can only be formed when pressure is able to increase at a rate that is faster than the temperature.
Such conditions only exist when a meteor impacts or when carbon becomes buried deep within continental plates. Due to the fact that most scientists believe that the crust was cool, this would seem to indicate that billions of years ago the Earth was actually more similar to the Earth we know today than we might have previously thought.
While it is doubtful that the diamonds will ever make their way into the jewelry market, they will most likely continue to be used for testing purposes in order to answer questions that persist regarding their creation. Specifically, scientists are interested in determining the connection between the creation of these 4 billion year old diamonds and carbon, the substance of which diamonds are composed.
The discovery of these diamonds certainly serves as a reminder that diamonds have been around for quite some time. The ‘diamonds are forever’ slogan is typically perceived to be associated with the hardness of diamonds and the fact that they are virtually indestructible. Most consumers fail to recognize, however, that the bright, shiny and sparkly diamond they purchase in a very modern jewelry store could very well be quite old. Judging by the discovery of these diamonds in Western Australia, it would seem quite plausible that many diamonds are likely much older than most consumers would ever guess.
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