A diamond at the origin of the Earth?

It was well known that diamonds are gems of inestimable value. That they could tell the origin of life itself on Earth, however, was unknown to most. Could it be that a diamond is at the origin of the Earth?

The study

Thanks to the study of a young researcher all made in Italy, the discovery of the wonderful "magical powers" of diamonds becomes even more interesting.

Geosciences researcher Marta Giovanna Pamato from the University of Padua has indeed studied diamonds to reveal an interesting mystery of geosciences: the origin of water on Earth. It is a mystery of Earth sciences that remains unresolved to this day, but it could really be based on the study of diamonds, the precious stones we love so much.

The research

Some past studies had already identified water molecules in some ancient diamonds, which became ice crystals following the various climate changes they underwent over the millennia.

The young researcher from the University of Padua, funded by the ERC, the European Research Council, investigated this primordial question through the study of hydrogen atoms present in some natural diamonds billions of years old. The ratio between hydrogen and one of its isotopes with other elements of the Solar System could explain the origin of H2O that allowed life on our planet.

A diamond at the origin of the Earth?

Dr. Pamato's project aims to study the composition of some of the oldest diamonds ever, to understand the geological evolution of the Earth and to possibly allow life on some other planet.

 

What is certain is that diamonds are and remain the precious stone par excellence, beautiful and of immense value. If they are also the symbol of our origin, then we will be even happier to wear them!