[meteorite-list] Size of diamonds in meteorites

[MarkF]

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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