What can diamond quality tell us about Earth?

The presence of diamonds is becoming increasingly more common in the field of geology. They help us explore parts of our planet that are deep under the earth’s crust where no machine has yet been able to penetrate. Since diamonds form so deep underground and are transported to the surface in Kimberlite, they possess unique qualities not found in any naturally formed rock on the planet’s surface. Diamonds of exceptional quality and size are ideal for research since they are often formed even deeper underground than more common diamonds.

Gems such as the famous Cullinan or the Lesotho diamonds distinguish themselves in value through unique chemical makeups and extraordinary sizes. Cut-off materials left over after polishing these exquisite stones have proven most helpful in geological exploration.

When speaking of diamond quality, we recognise 4 major factors: cut, clarity, carat and colour. Clarity denotes certain inclusions within the gem which got locked in there during the formative stages. These inclusions are the most important factor during research. Colour, on the other hand, is achieved by the diamond's chemical makeup being penetrated by different types of chemicals or changes in their crystal structure. Blue diamonds contain boron, purple diamonds contain hydrogen and green diamonds achieve their colour through radiation. It has been noted that exceptional gems contain far less nitrogen than other diamond types, almost always resulting in a type II diamond.

The inclusions in these diamond types have taught us that the Earth’s core is surrounded by molten metals such as iron and nickel, with limited oxygen. Furthermore, they reveal that they are formed between 360 and 750-kilometre under the Earth’s surface, far deeper than the 150 to 200-kilometre depths where most other diamonds take shape.

Diamond quality has also helped us make great strides in space exploration. In addition to being found underneath the Earth’s crust and close to the core, diamonds can also form in space. Among other things, these diamonds have proven other planets once had a hot core such as ours, which has allowed us to make educated estimations of the size of planets outside of our own solar system. Some scholars even entertain the possibility that all black diamonds on the planet could be extraterrestrial. Although highly included diamonds might not make for great investments, they turn out to be valuable in their own way.

BNT Diamonds buys diamonds straight from the source to offer you the best quality diamonds at the best price. In addition, all our diamonds have passed through a renowned certification agency, such as GIA, HRD or IGI.

If you are interested in buying diamonds as a value investment, contact our expert team now.