New Technique Tracks Sources Of Diamonds

Researchers have created new simple technique that can identify the sources of diamonds, according to a news release. The researchers' new testing technique had produced excellent results that had an average accuracy at 98 percent.

The study was presented by Catherine McManus, who is a chief scientist at Materialytics, LLC, at The Geological Society of America's Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, where Materialytics presented one of their latest diamonds provenance results. A total of 330 diamonds from five different states were used in the analyses.

"The report is unique because all of the 330 test samples used are of gem quality, making this diamond provenance study relevant not only to geologists but also to consumers by providing a scientific verification in support of conflict-free trade," McManus, said in a news release.

Experts at Materialytics have keenly studied the metal alloys, industrial ceramics and electronic components,which enables them to detect counterfeits, therefore allowing them to keep high quality control standards.

A number of materials have been studied for their origins. These materials include gold, tantalum, tin, tungsten along with emerald gemstones. (Due to their simple chemical composition, studies on gem-quality diamonds have been a challenge for researchers).

"One of our major findings is that the high success rates are not due to inclusions in the diamonds, but rather to signals from the carbon itself. That is significant, because it means that this method of analysis is applicable to all diamonds," Nancy McMillan, co-author of the study from New Mexico State University, mentioned in a news release. 

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