Black Diamond

Nov 14, 2013

Out of This World: Are Black Diamonds from Space? (Updated 2019)

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LISA

Black Diamond
Natural Untreated Black Diamond
credit: www.krikawa.com

The Origin of Black Diamonds

Where do black diamonds come from? This question has only increased the mystery surrounding these amazing gemstones, and the answer to the question of origin is even more alluring than their unique appearance. Black diamonds are less commonly known as carbonado, and scientists believe that outer space may actually be the birthplace of these particular stones.


 

Geographical Presence

Colorless diamonds are formed deep within the Earth’s mantle, and gradually make their way up near the surface by way of volcanic eruptions and the resulting magma. Upon close examination, scientists found that the carbon isotopes of black diamonds are characteristic of surface carbons and not those that are found in the depths of the Earth. 
 
By the time a white diamond reaches the surface of the Earth, it will be about 1 billion to 3.3 billion years old.
black diamond mine map
 
These colorless diamonds are mined in a variety of countries all over the world, including several states in the US. Black diamonds, however, are found in only two places on Earth. They were first found in Brazil in the 1800s, and have since been found in central Africa. To this day, these two countries remain the only sources of natural fancy color black diamonds.
 

From the Cosmos

raw black diamond
Raw Black Diamond
credit: goldbergcoins.auctionserver.net
The high content of hydrogen suggests that these stones originate from a star-like environment, such as that of hydrogen-rich interstellar space. The theory that space is, in fact, the birthplace of black diamonds is widely accepted in the scientific community. The fact that these diamonds have differing carbon isotopes, are rich in hydrogen, and just simply do not adhere to the rules of diamond mineralogy all point to a cosmic origin. Intensive study of these diamonds shows them to be most closely matched to other diamonds that are found only in outer space. However, the exact origin and the manner in which black diamonds made their way to Earth are very much matters of debate.

Origin Theories

black diamond ballas
Black Diamond Ballas
Credit: Krikawa.com
Supernova: Some scientists believe that large asteroids were formed by stellar supernova explosions which then traveled through space, landing on the earth some 2.3 billion years ago.
 
Meteorite: Another theory is that carbon atoms or grains of meteoritic black graphite within a hurtling meteorite transformed into diamond instantly during the intense heat and incredible shock of impact with the Earth.
 
Red Giant: Dr. Stephen Haggerty offers what is currently believed to be the most likely explanation of black diamond origin. He believes that the shock waves from exploding red giant stars crushed carbon into dense aggregations of black diamond. The resulting mass was sent careening through space. Eons later, the sun’s gravity drew them to be a product of carbon that has been crushed into dense aggregations of black diamond and sent careening through space, created by the shock waves from exploding red giant stars. Then, the sun’s gravity drew some of these diamonds to our solar system, at which time they crashed into our atmosphere and shattered into the fragments that are found today. 
 

How Old? Older Than Time

black diamond meteorite
Black Diamond Meteorite
credit: Steve Haggerty
Black diamonds are born in dying stars, later falling to earth either in fragments or within meteorites. Studied under infrared radiation, black diamonds have been shown to have a chemical spectrum that indicates they originate from a time before the formation of the earth, putting these diamonds at an incredible age of about 4.5 billion years. Recent atomic measurements place the origin of black diamonds on earth at nearly four billion years ago. This was a time when Earth was under a constant barrage of meteor collisions. It’s also theorized that black diamonds came to earth during an asteroid event that struck when Brazil and Africa were still one continent, which explains their presence in these two countries and nowhere else on the planet. 

Born of exploding stars and asteroid impacts, no other gemstone has such a fascinating and incredible story. Coming into being before our planet, your natural black diamond will be the oldest thing you ever own at an extraordinary 4.5 billion years of age. For more information, see the article at the National Science Foundation: Diamonds from Outer Space: Geologists Discover Origin of Earth's Mysterious Black Diamonds

What will your black diamond's story be?

Antique style black diamond engagement ring
Black Diamond
Engagement Ring
Black and White Diamond Wedding Bands
Black and White Diamond
Wedding Bands

At Krikawa, you can learn more about black diamonds, including how to evaluate a black diamond. There is also a complete collection of natural black diamonds in all shapes and colors. Choose from natural untreated or color enhanced, and pick the perfect diamond for your black diamond engagement ring or black diamond wedding band.


 

What do YOU think of black diamonds?  I want to know!

Please leave a comment!  Your feedback is important to me :-) Look Around

YOUR OPINION MATTERS

  • Ramon Diaz
    Dec 02, 2022

    Do u know we're I can sale my meeting that it contain diamonds I have over 40 lb of it and different kinds of other meter I said are black diamonds I'm not asking much I guess reasonable and I'll be happy to share some of the profits with you I'm not a greedy person

  • Donald senopera
    Nov 26, 2022

    Learn more about carbonecious dark brown diamound

  • Connie Adkins
    Mar 19, 2022

    My dad has about 20 small black diamond that were found when he was a boy in a big old rock kind of reddish color and it had a crack in it and inside were these black diamonds he has had these since the 50's just would like a little information about them, I did enjoy reading your article, thank you

  • goldelite
    Aug 18, 2020

    Your Article is wonderful, I got a lot of knowledge, and you wrote this article very well. Thank you for sharing such information.

  • Janet Plummer-Brown
    Aug 22, 2016

    I absolutely love the black diamonds and the wonderful history behind it. I will definitely choose to have black diamonds if/when my husband decides to get me an upgrade. When I was getting married, I didn't see what I really loved so I settled and there are 2 different styles that I simply adore!

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