The Formation of Pink Diamonds Linked to Ancient Supercontinent Breakup, New Study Suggests
A recent article published in the scientific journal Nature Communications proposes a fascinating explanation for the origin of pink diamonds. According to the study, these rare gems, along with the world’s largest diamond mine, may have formed during the breakup of a supercontinent called Nuna.
The article, titled “Emplacement of the Argyle diamond deposit into an ancient rift zone triggered by supercontinent breakup,” was authored by Dr. Hugo Olierook, a research fellow at Curtain University in Perth, Western Australia. It was published on September 19.
The focus of the study is the now-closed Argyle Diamond Mine, located in northern Western Australia. Pink diamonds were first discovered at this site in 1983, making it an important landmark in the diamond industry. The mine was also the largest source of natural diamonds.
The research team led by Dr. Olierook used advanced techniques, including laser beams smaller than the width of a human hair, to determine the age of the mine to be 1.3 billion years old. This age is a hundred million years older than previously believed and suggests that the mine formed as a result of the breakup of an ancient supercontinent.
Dr. Olierook explains that the Argyle Diamond Mine is located at the point where the Kimberley region and the rest of northern Australia collided millions of years ago, creating a scar in the earth’s crust. This scar allowed magma to shoot up to the surface, bringing with it pink diamonds.
The unique pink color of these diamonds is believed to be the result of a combination of factors, including deep carbon, the collision of continents, and stretching. The study also suggests that other undiscovered diamond deposits may exist in similar regions, including Australia.
While the Argyle Diamond Mine accounted for more than 90% of the world’s supply of pink diamonds, they remained incredibly rare. Less than 1% of the approximately 15 million carats of rough diamonds produced from the mine each year were pink.
The study’s findings shed new light on the geological processes that lead to the formation of pink diamonds. However, there are still unanswered questions about the Argyle formation and its intriguing pink diamonds, which have long puzzled geologists.
Although the Argyle Diamond Mine ceased production in late 2020 due to the exhaustion of economically viable diamond deposits, its legacy as a uniquely significant source of pink diamonds remains. The allure and value of these stunning gemstones continue to captivate collectors and jewelry enthusiasts worldwide.