Science reveals the secret of pink diamonds

More than 90% of the world’s pink diamonds come from the recently closed Argyle mine in northwestern Australia. While the majority of diamond mines are typically located in the center of the continent, Argyle is an exception as the mine is not far from the north coast of the country.

Argyle Mine Secrets

The secret of the spread of pink diamonds in this mine has remained a mystery until now. Hugo Ollerock, a researcher at Curtin University and lead author of the study, explains that pink diamonds are the result of a very delicate mineral balance: “ By applying a little pressure, the diamond will turn pink. Push a little too much, and it will turn brown “.

The study was published in the journal natureHe points out that the formation of pink diamonds is due to three main elements. The first is carbon, which must be present in the bowels of the Earth at a depth of no less than 150 kilometers. The second is sufficient pressure that ” Consists » Transparent diamonds to give them a pink color. The third and final element, discovered by the research team, is a volcanic event dating back about 1.3 billion years, and coinciding with the disintegration of the first giant continent on Earth known as Nona or Colombia.

To reach these conclusions, the researchers used an extremely precise laser to examine small crystals in a sample of Argyle rock provided by Rio Tinto, the mine owner. They determined that the mine was 100 million years older than previous estimates, a discovery that matches the timing of Nona’s breakup.

According to Luc Doucet, co-author of the study, “ Huge explosion » This volcanic event propelled diamonds at close to the speed of sound. This has never been recorded in human history. Future research can now focus on ancient mountain belts that represent the breakup of Nuna, near the edges of the continents. Countries such as Canada, Russia, South Africa and Australia are being discussed as potential areas to find these gems.

However, we must remain cautious, explains John Foden, a diamond expert at the University of Adelaide. The study convincingly shows the age of Argyle’s pink diamonds, but other diamond-rich counties also suffered a Nina rupture without producing pink diamonds. A color that could be specific to Argyle. The mine was closed in 2020 for financial reasons: the supply stopped causing the value of pink diamonds to increase.