Wendy Panero, an Associate Professor with the School of Earth Sciences led the study. She and her colleagues reached the conclusion it was a possibility our galaxy could harbour planets with layers of diamonds in their mantles while studying how the minerals form in Earth's lower mantle. The researchers subjected samples of iron, carbon and oxygen to conditions mimicking those deep inside earth, finding that samples with high carbon-to-oxygen ratios formed diamond. They then built computer models that showed how this process would occur on planets in carbon-rich solar systems. Glittering: Such a planet would be 'dark and cold' - unlike polished diamonds as we know them Data showed that as much as 50 per cent of the atoms on such planets would turn into diamond. Ms Panero said: 'Our results are striking, in that they suggest carbon-rich planets can form with a core and a mantle, just as Earth did. 'However, the cores would likely be very carbon-rich - much like steel - and the mantle would also be dominated by carbon, much in the form of diamond.' But such conditions would make it impossible to sustain life as we know it on Earth. As the Huffington Post reports, diamonds transfer heat so readily, however, that a carbon super-Earth's interior would quickly freeze. Such an environment would eliminate life-sustaining geothermal energy, plate tectonics, a magnetic field and atmosphere. And for those who imagine a world of shimmering mounds of precious minerals, think again. Doctoral student Cayman Unterborn presented the