The De Beers Institute of Diamonds, part of the De Beers Group, is pleased to share further details of an unusual diamond within a diamond. Its official name is “Beating Heart” and it was recently tested at the Maidenhead diamond facility in the UK.
Engraving features are visible both on the smaller diamond and in the inner cavity of the host. As seen in this scanning electron microscope (SEM) image. Photo by Ivan Nikiforov.
They found that the 0.329-carat, D-coloured, IaAB-type diamond has an internal cavity. This encloses a smaller diamond which is trapped but also free to move through space.
In a preliminary analysis of the diamond they used the instruments built by the Ignite group of De Beers, together with DiamondView and SYNTHdetect. This was followed by scanning optical and electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and fluorescence and phosphorescence imaging.
Initial conclusions suggest that the cavity was formed due to preferential etching of an intermediate layer of poor quality diamond fibril.
The initial “core” would consist of good quality diamond development. However, a subsequent layer of growth was probably bad and fibrous, followed by a further “outer coating” of gem crystal. At some point between its formation and its journey to the Earth's surface, the poor quality layer was eliminated. Only the better quality material “survived” this process, the outer diamond and core. This in this case, resulted in a diamond that can move freely within an inner space.
Samantha Sibley, technical trainer at De Beers Group Ignite, explains. “I've certainly never seen anything like Beating Heart in the last 30 years that my work has been in the diamond sector. Using the expertise of the De Beers Group, we can shed light on the formation and structure of this natural specimen. We can also share this knowledge with a wider community of diamond professionals.“.
The Institute of Diamonds was notified of the sample in October 2022. When it was reported as a potentially interesting natural anomaly by De Beers Group's sightholder, India-based VD Global (VDG).
The rough diamond was mined by the De Beers Group at one of four global mining sites (Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa). It arrived at the De Beers Diamond Institute's facility in Maidenhead, UK in November 2022. It was later named the “Beating Heart” diamond by VDG in recognition of its unusual composition.
The “Beating Heart” diamond is now being added to a small group of similar natural diamonds. Along with the well-known Matryoshka diamond from Siberia, Russia, which was first recorded in 2019. The specimen will not be cut and polished and will instead be preserved for research and educational purposes. With the consent of VDG and with the support of the De Beers Diamond Institute.
Jamie Clark, head of global operations at the De Beers Institute of Diamonds, adds. “De Beers Institute of Diamonds will have the ability to offer its diamond in all sectors. “Beating Heart is a remarkable example of what can happen in the natural diamond's journey from formation to discovery. We would like to thank VD Global for recognizing the potential of this diamond and acknowledging its educational and scientific potential.
A finding like this demonstrates why the formation and origin of natural diamonds is such a fascinating area of study. Also why it is important to pursue advances in testing and analysis that can contribute to our knowledge of natural diamond development.”.
Source: southernjewelrynews.com
