The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13
THB PRINCE OF JEWELS
Formation of Diamonds the Sub
ject of Constant Study.
The Origin of the Costly Gems
Continues to Be an Unsolved
Problem Artificial Productions
Possible to Scientific Chemists.

The formation of the diamond is still
times this splendid gem has occupied
mems minds. 1t has always. too, been a
perennial puzzle to the curious minded
one OF the riddles of creation. Steffans
is accredited with the dictum that ola
mond is quartz which has arrived at self
consciousness" and an eminent geologist
has parodied this metaphysical definition.
saying: Quartz is diamond which has
become insane
In recent years the attention of sci
entists has been directed toward the dia-
mond. and the development OF electricity,
with the introduction of the electric fur
mace. has so facilitated research. that
the secret of the diamond will, in all
probability. soon be determined.
After exposure for some time to the
sun many diamonds glow in a dark room.
Some diamonds are fuorescent, appear
ing milky in the sunlight. In a vacuum.
exposed to a high tension current of cleo
tricity, diamonds phosphoresce of diff
ferent colors. most South African dia-
monds shining with blush light. Dia-
monds from other localities emit bright
blue. apricot, pale blue. red. yellowish
green, orange. and pale green light. The
most phosphorescent diamonds are those
which are fluorescent in the sun. beau
tifuI green diamond in the possession Of
Prof. Crookes. when phosphorescing in a
good vacuum. gives almost as much light
as a candle, and one can easily read by its
rays. The light is pale green, tending to
white.
The conversion of the diamond into
graphite is a pure effect of heat. Prof
Dewar recently placed a crystal of dia-
mond in a carbon tube through which a
current of hydrogen was maintained.
The tube was heated from the outside by
an electric arc, and in a few minutes the
diamond was converted into graphite. The
diamond has been shown to be extremely
transparent to the Roentgen rays, where
as highly refracting glass, used in imita-
ton diamonds. Is almost perfectly opaque
to the rays. The large Delhi diamond
was recently exposed over a photograph
ic plate to the x-rays for a few seconds,
and in addition to this gem, which
weighs 81 1-2 carats and is of a fine pink
color. a black diamond weighing % carats,
and an imitation in glass of the Delhi dia-
mond, were also exposed. Also, a fiat.
triangular crystal of diamond OF pure
water, and piece of glass of the same
size and shape. were subjected to the same
experiment.
In, ant he fr,,N Get uTh
the diamond obscured the rays was found
to be strong. showing that most rays
passed through. while the glass was prac-
tically opaque. By this means imitation
diamonds and some other false gems can
readily be detected and distinguished from
the true stones. 1t would have taken an
expert TO have distinguished. by mere
sight, the pure triangular diamond from
the adjacent glass imitation IN the expert
ment cited.
Speculations as to the probable origin OF
the diamond have been greatly forwarded
by recent research. and particularly by
improved means OF Obtaining high tenn
peratures. Thanks to tue success OF Prof.
Nuissan whose name will always be asso-
ciated with the artificial production OF dia-
monds, scientists are able today to manu-
facture diamonds IN their iaDofatOrles-
infinitely miscropic. ii is true-all the
same, veritable diamonds. with crystalline
form and appearance color, hardness. and
action light the same as the natural gem.
Until recent years carbon YVES consid-
cred absolutely non volatile and infusible.
but the enormous temperatures now at
the disposal Of experimentalists-by the
introduction of electriclty-have SUM-
GENTLY demonstrated the error of such
conclusion. 1t only remains for chemists
to obtain sufficient temperature and pres-
sure to be able to manufacture. ad lib-
itum. diamonds OF merehantahle size