The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Most pink diamonds were birthed by a disintegrating supercontinent. Where can we find more?

  • Written by Denis Fougerouse, Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University
Most pink diamonds were birthed by a disintegrating supercontinent. Where can we find more?

There is nothing quite like a diamond. For many they are the ultimate “I love you” gift, and jewellers will tell you the ultra-hard stones have unmatched “fire” and “brilliance”. The sentimental and aesthetic value of the gems is matched by their price, which can run to tens of thousand dollars per carat – and even more for coloured diamonds, especially if they are blue, green, violet, orange, red or pink.

But why are diamonds so expensive? How do they form? Do we really find diamonds in volcanoes? What is the link to supercontinents and ancient lifeforms?

In new research[1] published in Nature Communications, we answer some of these questions by studying the world’s largest diamond deposit, Argyle in Western Australia, the source of more than 90% of pink diamonds.

We found that at Argyle, diamonds crystallised deep in Earth’s interior were brought to the surface when a supercontinent, Nuna, began to break apart. As continents break up, their edges stretch, allowing small pockets of diamond-rich magma to rise to the surface.

Why are pink diamonds so special?

Only about 20% of mined diamonds are of gemstone quality. If you think of diamonds as cars, 80 of every 100 on the road would be old, beat-up rides and 20 would be luxury cars.

One in every 10,000 would be the equivalent of a supercar: a rare and precious coloured diamond.

However, some places in the world are special. Just as you might see a greater proportion of supercars in Monaco or Hollywood, so too do some places produce more coloured diamonds.

When it comes to pink diamonds, one place stands alone. More than 90% of all the pink diamonds ever found come from a single mine in the Kimberley region of Western Australia: Argyle.

An aerial photo of the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia.
The Argyle mine in Western Australia, which closed in 2020, was the source of 90% of the world’s pink diamonds. Airphoto Australia / Getty[2]

The Argyle mine closed in 2020, and the price of pink diamonds has skyrocketed while the supply dwindles.

While pink diamonds are highly prized, they are also in a sense “damaged goods”.

Diamonds are made of carbon atoms arranged in a compact, regular lattice. Clear, perfect diamonds sparkle because light reflects off their internal surfaces.

However, when diamonds are subject to intense pressure deep inside Earth, the lattice of atoms can twist and bend. This causes small imperfections that diffract light and bring colour to the gem.

Why is Argyle so well-endowed in pink diamonds?

All diamonds are found in pipelike volcanoes, or in their eroded remnants. These volcanoes have deep roots under continents, which is where diamonds reside.

The roots need to be deep. If they’re shallow, the carbon that might become diamonds will instead be in the form of graphite, which is not nearly as appealing on an engagement ring.

The story of the Argyle volcano begins some 1,800 million years ago, when the continental plate beneath the Kimberley smashed into the rest of WA to form the first supercontinent, Nuna. Five hundred million years later, Nuna ripped apart again while Australia hung together.

Three maps of the world at different times, showing the creation of the volcano that led tot he Argyle diamond deposit.
The Argyle volcano was created when the Nuna supercontinent was torn apart. Olierook et al. / Nature Communications, CC BY[3][4]

Yet old wounds never fully heal. The suture between the Kimberley and the rest of the continent was stretched open as Nuna split up, and the Argyle volcano shot to the surface, bringing pink diamonds with it. The death of a supercontinent gave birth to Argyle.

So what made Argyle’s diamonds pink? The force that damaged the deep diamonds, resulting in their beautiful hue, probably came from the continental collision that formed the supercontinent in the first place. But the diamonds remained deep below this old wound for a long time before being brought to the surface.

Read more: Perfectly imperfect: the discovery of the second-largest pink diamond has left the world in awe. What gives diamonds their colour?[5]

Will we find another trove of pink diamonds? With Argyle now closed, the search is on to meet the demand for these illustrious gems.

The ingredients appear to be continental breakup, the edges of ancient continents and volcanic pipes.

Is carbon recycled in Earth’s interior?

Finding diamonds is no mere quest for glitz and glamour. It’s an exploration of Earth’s deepest history.

Diamonds are ancient time capsules from the depths of our planet. They are relics of a past so remote it challenges comprehension.

We know they are made of pure carbon – but where did this carbon come from?

Read more: More than just a sparkling gem: what you didn't know about diamonds[6]

Most of the carbon is remnants of carbon-rich asteroids that clumped together to form Earth 4.5 billion years ago.

However, some diamonds contain carbon that was once part of living organisms. Organic carbon, from organisms that once thrived on Earth’s surface, got buried deep down by geological processes.

The Argyle diamonds, for instance, hold such organic imprints, like echoes from an ancient world long vanished. In these glimmers of the distant past, we find more than beauty; we find keys to unlock the most profound secrets of our planet’s history.

Read more https://theconversation.com/most-pink-diamonds-were-birthed-by-a-disintegrating-supercontinent-where-can-we-find-more-212019

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Ricoh Launches IM C401F A4 Colour MFP to Boost Speed and Security in Hybrid Workplaces

Ricoh, a leading provider of smart workplace technology, today launched the RICOH IM C401F, an enterprise-grade A4 colour desktop multifunction printer (MFP) designed for Austral...

Why Diversification Still Matters in a Volatile Economy

Market volatility, geopolitical conflicts, inflation fears—these are only some of the wild cards that render the current financial environment a tightrope to walk. Amidst all thi...

Specialised nutrition gains momentum in supporting those living with early Alzheimer's disease

With high public interest in Alzheimer’s disease, there is growing awareness of the important role nutrition plays in supporting memory and cognitive function in people diagnosed...

From clinics to comfort: how sleep retreats are redefining care in Australia

Australia is amid a sleep health crisis. Nearly 40% of adults report inadequate sleep, and the consequences are far-reaching, impacting everything from cardiovascular health to...

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...