[meteorite-list] Meteorites, Diamonds and Minerals

From: Marc Fries <m.fries_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Feb 24 12:59:12 2005
Message-ID: <1137.10.17.14.1.1109267946.squirrel_at_webmail.ciw.edu>

Howdy

   Diamonds don't melt like many other materials do. If you get them hot
enough in the presence of atmospheric gases (O2, N2 etc), they will
break down into carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and cyanide depending
on temperature, gas concentration, etc. The diamonds in ureilites and
other diamond-bearing meteorites will combust and reduce to gases in
the fusion crust. The interiors of meteorites do not get hot enough to
generate this reaction during atmospheric entry.

Cheers,
MDF

> Hi Dirk and All,
>
> Thanks for the diamond info. However I was unable to find the answer to
> a question I have been wondering about for a while. Do the diamonds in
> ureilites melt as the meteorite passes through the earth's atmosphere?
>
> I have read that the melting point of diamond at 1 atmosphere is about
> 4000 degrees K. Does atmospheric melting on the meteorite's surface
> ever come close to that? What is the vaporization temperature of
> olivine? Might that yield a clue?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Martin H
>
>
>
> On Feb 24, 2005, at 7:34 AM, drtanuki wrote:
>
>>> Dear List,
>>> Here is a link to everything you wanted to know
>>> about diamonds and minerals in meteorites. I hope
>>> you
>>> find the site interesting.
>>> Sincerely, Dirk Ross...Tokyo
>>> http://brysonburke.com/aboutdiamonds.html
>
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-- 
Marc Fries
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Carnegie Institution of Washington
Geophysical Laboratory
5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW
Washington, DC 20015
PH:  202 478 7970
FAX: 202 478 8901

Received on Thu 24 Feb 2005 12:59:06 PM PST