Extraterrestrial diamonds

Diamonds in Meteorites and Extraterrestrial Materials

• Nanodiamonds found in primitive meteorites indicate they came from outside the Solar System.
• Nanodiamonds make up about 3% of the carbon in meteorites.
• Silicon carbide and graphite grains in meteorites also have anomalous isotopic patterns.
• Nanodiamonds in meteorites can contain noble gases of presolar origin.
• Techniques like atom probe tomography can examine individual nanodiamond grains.
• Diamonds found in meteorites provide evidence of extraterrestrial diamonds.
• Nanodiamonds have been discovered in meteorites from multiple locations across three continents.
• Ureilites, a type of meteorite, contain diamonds.
• Extraterrestrial nanodiamonds have been studied in relation to the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis.
• Diamond inclusions in a ureilite meteorite suggest the presence of a large planetary body.

Diamond Formation in Space and Planets

• Nanodiamonds are close to molecular size, containing about 1800 carbon atoms.
• Diamonds are more stable than graphite at very small sizes due to surface energy.
• Nanodiamonds can be found alongside other forms of carbon like fullerenes.
• Ureilites, carbon-rich meteorites, often contain diamonds formed by shock events.
• Larger diamonds found in Almahata Sitta meteorite suggest a protoplanetary origin.
• Infrared observations show that carbon-containing molecules are widespread in space.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fullerenes, and diamondoids are found in space.
• Dust in space may contain up to 10 quadrillion diamondoids per gram.
• The interior of Uranus and Neptune may contain huge quantities of diamonds.
• Extreme pressure can separate carbon from methane, allowing diamond formation.
• Experimental results suggest diamond rain and convection in Neptune's interior.
• Stars with high carbon-to-oxygen ratios may have planets composed mostly of carbides.
• Silicon carbide is a rare mineral on Earth but could be common on carbon-rich planets.
• Carbide planets may have different thermal properties than silicate planets.
• PSR J1719-1438 b, a planet orbiting a pulsar, may be composed of dense carbides.
• The thermal conductivity and expansivity of carbides differ from silicates.
• Uranus and Neptune have been suggested to have an ice layer that could contain diamonds.
• Methane in Neptune may be crushed into diamonds under high pressure.
• Solid diamonds have been observed raining on Uranus and Neptune.
• Experiments have concluded that diamonds can form in the atmosphere of Neptune.
• Laser-compressed hydrocarbons at planetary interior conditions can lead to diamond formation.

Diamonds in Stars and Beyond

• Diamonds have been proposed to exist in carbon-rich stars, particularly white dwarfs.
• Carbonado, a polycrystalline mix of diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon, is present in stars.
• Diamonds in stars could come from supernovae and white dwarfs.
• The white dwarf BPM 37093, located in the constellation Centaurus, may have a diamond core.
• BPM 37093 is one of the largest diamonds in the universe.
• A diamond planet that orbits a pulsar has been discovered.
• Super-Earth planets have been found to have a mineralogy that includes diamonds.
• The mineral moissanite, a form of silicon carbide, is considered a rock-forming material.
• SiC (silicon carbide) has been studied for its thermal expansion properties in the deep interiors of carbide exoplanets.
• The presence of diamonds on a super-Earth planet has been questioned and may not be accurate.

Diamond-like Glass and Other Diamond-related Discoveries

• A diamond-like star has been created in the lab.
• Diamond-like glass has properties similar to diamond.
• It is made by compressing carbon-based materials.
• This glass could have various applications in technology.
• The creation of diamond-like glass helps in understanding diamond formation.
• The Center for Astrophysics highlights the discovery of a massive diamond.
• This diamond is the largest known in the galaxy.
• It was found in a distant region of space.
• The diamond's size and rarity make it a unique find.
• This discovery adds to our understanding of diamonds beyond Earth.
• Carbonado and Framesite are mysterious types of diamonds.
• Their origins are still not fully understood.
• Carbonado is believed to have formed in outer space.
• Framesite is thought to have originated from meteorite impacts.
• Scientists are studying these diamonds to uncover their unique formation processes.

Mineral Evolution and Co-evolution of Life and Rocks

• Before the formation of the Solar System, a small number of minerals, including diamonds and olivine, were present.
• Stars, rich in carbon, may have formed small diamonds at higher temperatures than any other known mineral.
• The diversity of minerals has changed over time as conditions have changed.
• The history of mineral formation was explored in a paper by Robert Hazen and colleagues at the Carnegie Institution.
• The paper is titled 'Mineral evolution' and was published in 2008.
• Rocks and minerals undergo evolutionary processes.
• Mineral evolution is the study of these changes over time.
• The Earth's environment and geological processes influence mineral evolution.
• Understanding mineral evolution helps in predicting mineral occurrences.
• This field of study provides insights into Earth's geological history.
• Life and rocks on Earth may have co-evolved.
• The presence of certain minerals influenced the development of life.
• Rocks provided the necessary elements for life to thrive.
• Life, in turn, affected the composition and formation of rocks.
• The interaction between life and rocks is a complex and interconnected process.

Extraterrestrial diamonds Data Sources