Diamond Reveals a Possible Sixth Ocean Below Earth's Surface

By Isabelle Parker

A diamond inspected by gemologist Tingting Gu at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has revealed signs of water in the mantle 660km beneath the Earth's surface. The diamond was found in the Karowe mine in Botswana, and rode to the Earth's surface on a volcanic eruption. The water bearing minerals it contained were discovered when researchers at the GIA became intrigued by unusual imperfections within the structure of the diamond. Dr Wuyi Wang, the vice president of research and development at the GIA, says the inclusions are the "only materials from the Earth’s interior that we can analyze directly. The study of these minerals offers unique opportunities to understand the chemistry of the Earth’s interior." The water found at these depths would be half liquid and half gas, and adheres to minerals. The gem is the second ever found to contain ringwoodite, and was formed at a pressure of 23.5 gigapascals- the pressure of one gigapascal is equivalent to four Mount Everests. The IaB- type diamond was set to be sold at a jewelry store, but will now give scientists further clues to the structure and evolution of the planet.