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News Release 11-147

Diamond Impurities Bonanza for Geologists Studying Earth's History

Ancient minerals tell story of planet's distant past

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an optical photomicrograph of a sulfide-inclusion-bearing rough diamond from Botswana.

Optical photomicrograph of a sulfide-inclusion-bearing rough diamond from Botswana.

Credit: Steven Shirey


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a hexagonal grain of iron sulfide below a diamond's surface surrounded by a black rim.

Below this diamond's surface is a hexagonal grain of iron sulfide surrounded by a black rim.

Credit: Jeffrey Harris, University of Glasgow


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a hexagonal grain of iron sulfide that can be used to reveal the diamond's age.

The hexagonal grain of iron sulfide may be removed for analysis to reveal the diamond's age.

Credit: Jeffrey Harris, University of Glasgow


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an eclogitic diamond from the Orapa kimberlite, Botswana, that shows an older diamond core.

Eclogitic diamond from the Orapa kimberlite, Botswana, shows an older diamond core.

Credit: Steve Shirey


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a blue core surrounding banded diamond growth in an eclogitic diamond from Botswana.

In this photo, a blue core surrounds banded diamond growth in an eclogitic diamond from Botswana.

Credit: Steve Shirey


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the July 22 cover of the journal Science

The researchers' findings are described in the July 22 issue of the journal Science.

Credit: Copyright AAAS 2011


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