Evan M Smith
Senior Research Scientist - Gemological Institute of America
Adjunct Professor - University of British Columbia
Inclusions feel the squeeze
During diamond growth, deep in the mantle, a diamond and any inclusions trapped within it are compressed by the weight of overlying rocks. This ferropericlase inclusion has an incredible remnant "squeeze" factor that tells us the diamond grew at ~600 km deep!
See the article HERE
Highlights
The world's finest gem diamonds are among the deepest samples we have from inside the Earth. Some of these exquisite gems originate hundreds of kilometers down in the mantle and contain information about molten metal, water, and the deep consequences of plate tectonics.
Can we "measure" which country a diamond comes from?
In this feature article we discuss the challenges surrounding geographic origin determination for diamonds. Voted as the most valuable G&G article of 2022.
See the article HERE
BBC dives into super-deep diamonds
Thank you to BBC Future for sharing my perspective in this story on "super-deep" diamonds such as the famous Cullinan
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Snapshots
Discussing mechanisms for uplift of the Colorado Plateau, during a rafting trip down the Grand Canyon
Speaking about enigmatic type II diamonds in the context of exploration, at UBC's MDRU Research Day 2014
Collecting rocks to test for copper and gold, from a skarn deposit targeted for mineral exploration on Vancouver Island