Science Journalist Natalie Angier discusses the production of precious stones underneath Earth’s crust, an unimaginably slow and difficult process. While gems were originally thought to be too commercial for study by academics, recent understanding of the importance of their formation has caused a shift in focus towards the “shiny rocks” in the geology community. While diamonds are simply a crystalline structure of carbon atoms, they only form in very unique circumstances, so it is possible to gain information about history billions of years ago with the appearance of diamonds. In addition, they only come to the surface intact if they are shot out quickly, like through a volcanic eruption, because if they have time to decompress as they come to the surface, they can become graphite. Scientists have been able to replicate this process in the lab, turning valuable diamonds into graphite. Rubies, emeralds and sapphires all have trace amounts of elements which cause them to filter the light passing through differently, thus only reflecting certain wavelengths, which appear as the distinct red, green and blue colors. These coloring elements can give geologists information about the events which occurred in the past to bring together the necessary “ingredients” to form the stones.
Gemstones have always been a source of monetary wealth for royalty and the very rich, but now they can also act as a source of a wealth of scientistic knowledge. The process of creating graphite from diamonds in the lab shows that the understanding of this phenomenon is more important than the use of gems as wealth for geologists. However, the human need for power is behind both the destruction of a diamond and the wearing of one. Diamonds were worn by kings to display the strength of their command– that it extended into the depths of the earth, and that it was indestructible and lasting, like the stones. How ironic, then, that this unbelieved destruction should now symbolize the growth of man’s understanding and power over nature. Reversing the process that earth took billions of year to complete is an extraordinary feat, one which was sought by scientists to gain knowledge. At a time when diamonds are now within reach of even the middle class, something more than beautiful display must be gained from them to make them truly valuable.
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