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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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Optical photomicrograph of a sulfide-inclusion-bearing rough diamond from Botswana.
Credit: Steven Shirey
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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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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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Eclogitic diamond from the Orapa kimberlite, Botswana, shows an older diamond core.
Credit: Steve Shirey
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In this photo, a blue core surrounds banded diamond growth in an eclogitic diamond from Botswana.
Credit: Steve Shirey
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The researchers' findings are described in the July 22 issue of the journal Science.
Credit: Copyright AAAS 2011
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