Interest in the defects and impurities in natural diamond, which are found in even the most perfect stone, is driven by the fact that diamond growth occurs at a depth of over 120Km. They display characteristics associated with their origin and their journey through the mantle to the surface of the Earth. An optical classification scheme for diamond exists based largely on the presence and segregation of nitrogen. For example type Ia, which includes 98% of all natural diamonds, contain nitrogen aggregated into small non-paramagnetic clusters and usually contain sub-micrometre platelet defects on {100} planes. Numerous transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies of these platelets and associated features have been made e.g. . Some diamonds, however, contain imperfections and impurities that place them outside this main classification scheme. Two such types are described.First, coated-diamonds which possess gem quality cores enclosed by a rind that is rich in submicrometre sized mineral inclusions. The transition from core to coat is quite sharp indicating a sudden change in growth conditions, Figure 1. As part of a TEM study of the inclusions apatite has been identified as a major constituent of the impurity present in many inclusion cavities, Figure 2.
Natural diamond growth conditions recorded by their internal structures