Diamond in the Mantle

Simon Mitton

doi:10.1017/9781316997475.016

14 - Diamond in the Mantle

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 December 2020

Simon Mitton

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Simon Mitton: Affiliation:
University of Cambridge

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Summary

Diamonds form deep in the mantle, where they mostly remain unless propelled to the surface in a volcanic eruption. Diamond is by far our most important mineral messenger for discovering the history and chemistry of Earth’s convecting mantle. Diamond provides a window to otherwise inaccessible geological processes that churned away 100 kilometres underground and often occurred billions of years ago.1 Chemically, diamond is exceptionally pure: 99.9 percent or more elemental carbon. Diamond lasts almost forever, being the hardest known natural material by quite a margin. And since 1948, De Beers has used the marketing tagline “A diamond is forever” continuously to promote its diamond engagement rings.

Type: Chapter
Information: From Crust to Core
A Chronicle of Deep Carbon Science
, pp. 282 - 302

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316997475.016 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2020

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