[meteorite-list] Size of diamonds in meteorites

From: MarkF <mafer_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed May 11 16:44:27 2005
Message-ID: <003501c5566a$018d80a0$0408e104_at_MAF>

Hi Bernd and List

I've been reading about this and have to wonder if its diamonds at all.
It may be that what has been experienced is a combination of factors, not
the least of which is simple rock density itself. Add to this silicon
carbide crystals, nano-diamonds and you have the makings of a first class
blade destroyer.
I've run into cherts that will astound those that cut meteorites because a
chert is just a quartz, and should be no problem for a diamond blade. But
check those ribbon cherts from the Pacific North West (Ross Lake) against
other forms of chert or quartz, or other rock types period, to see what I
mean. If you push too hard, that variety of ribbon chert will strip the
diamond off the best of blades and you could cut sapphires quicker to boot!

Mark F

----- Original Message -----
From: <bernd.pauli_at_paulinet.de>
To: <Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 4:22 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Size of diamonds in meteorites


> Hello David, Adam, and List,
>
> I'm sorry for my late response but we are very busy with our
> preparations for our family trip to Lake Constance tomorrow.
>
> David Weir kindly wrote:
>
>> Perhaps Bernd could check his
>> extensive resources for more info
>
> So here goes:
>
> HILL H.G.M. et al. (1997) Infrared spectroscopy of interstellar
> nanodiamonds
> from the Orgueil meteorite (Meteoritics 32-5, 1997, 713-718, excerpts):
>
> "To date, the only diamonds identified that are almost certainly of
> extrasolar
> origin are those that survive in the matrices of primitive meteorites
> (Lewis
> et al., 1987; Anders and Zinner, 1993; Ott, 1993). Typically 1-3 nm in
> size
> (1 nanometer = one billionth of a meter), they are present in abundances
> of
> up to ca. 1400 ppm ... Meteoritic nanodiamonds, with typical dimensions in
> the range of 1-3 nm, are significantly smaller than the diamonds in
> diamond
> powders".
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Bernd
>
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Received on Wed 11 May 2005 04:42:52 PM PDT