X-ray topography of a natural twinned diamond of unusual pseudo-tetrahedral morphology

Research areas:

• Surfaces planétaires (2011 - 2016)

Year:

2005

Authors:

• E Fritsch
• M Moore
• Benjamin Rondeau
• RG Waggett

Journal:

JOURNAL OF CRYSTAL GROWTH

Volume:

280

Number:

1-2

Pages:

279-285

Month:

JUN 15

ISSN:

0022-0248

BibTex:

@article{WOS:000229982600042, author = "E Fritsch and M Moore and Benjamin Rondeau and RG Waggett", abstract = "The internal morphology of a natural twinned diamond was investigated using X-ray section topography. The diamond consisted of two crystals joined along a \{1 1 1\} plane whose remote ends were triangular \{1 1 1\} faces with sizes approximately 4 mm on the edge. A coating of fibrous growth obscured the morphology of the good quality diamond inside. Although the coat displayed re-entrant surfaces near the twin plane along three edges of the crystal, X-ray topography showed the inner crystal to protrude outwards along these same edges. The good quality inner core displayed the classical ``spinel law{{\&}#039;{\&}#039;} twinned octahedral morphology whereas the fibrous rim showed a typical sphalerite-like twinned tetrahedral morphology. A possible growth mechanism which could account for this is discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.", doi = "10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2005.02.058", extra = "PICL", issn = "0022-0248", journal = "JOURNAL OF CRYSTAL GROWTH", month = "JUN 15", number = "1-2", pages = "279-285", title = "{X}-ray topography of a natural twinned diamond of unusual pseudo-tetrahedral morphology", volume = "280", year = "2005", }

Abstract:

The internal morphology of a natural twinned diamond was investigated
using X-ray section topography. The diamond consisted of two crystals
joined along a \{1 1 1\} plane whose remote ends were triangular \{1 1
1\} faces with sizes approximately 4 mm on the edge. A coating of
fibrous growth obscured the morphology of the good quality diamond
inside. Although the coat displayed re-entrant surfaces near the twin
plane along three edges of the crystal, X-ray topography showed the
inner crystal to protrude outwards along these same edges. The good
quality inner core displayed the classical ``spinel law{''} twinned
octahedral morphology whereas the fibrous rim showed a typical
sphalerite-like twinned tetrahedral morphology. A possible growth
mechanism which could account for this is discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier
B.V. All rights reserved.