Russian scientists for the first time determined the fluorine and chlorine content in natural diamonds. The discovery helped to find out where these elements got into the crystals and what underlying processes are associated with their formation.
The study was carried out by specialists from the Institute geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry named after V.I. Vernadsky RAS together with colleagues from the Physico-Technical Institute named after A.F. Ioffe. Using high-precision analysis, scientists measured the concentrations of halogens in natural diamonds and confirmed that they do indeed contain fluorine and chlorine.
Diamond consists mainly of carbon, but always contains traces of other elements. The best known are nitrogen, hydrogen and boron, which affect the color, transparency and electrical properties of crystals. Previously, researchers found microinclusions of salts containing halogens in diamonds, which became the basis for testing their presence directly.
Secondary ion mass spectrometry was used for analysis. It allowed us to determine that the fluorine and chlorine content was between 0.014 and 0.036 parts per million. Despite extremely small concentrations, this is enough to judge the conditions for the formation of diamonds.
Scientists note that it is not yet possible to say unambiguously whether halogens are embedded in the crystal lattice of diamond or associated with microinclusions. The next stage of work will be aimed at finding out exactly how fluorine and chlorine are located in the crystal and whether they affect its physical properties.
The analysis also showed that the sources of halogens are of mixed nature. Some of these elements are inherited from the primary substances of the Earth, while others entered the mantle during the subsidence of lithospheric plates, where diamonds are formed.
The data obtained expand our understanding of the composition of natural diamonds and the processes occurring in the deep layers of the planet. New information can be used in geochemistry, mineralogy and in studying the conditions for the formation of diamond deposits.
Source: Ministry of Education and Science of Russia
