gems, diamond, inclusions

A diamond is so much more than merely a cov- eted mineral specimen or gemstone. Whether a natural crystal or transformed into a glittering gem by the lapidary’s hand, diamond is a unique messenger bearing extraordinary tales from Earth’s depths. To the unaided eye, euhedral crystals (fig. 1) and flawless, colorless faceted diamonds may offer a message too subtle to register, while a more tortured, less aesthetic specimen may be dismissed entirely. However, with the aid of the microscope, a surface landscape of surprisingly detailed features is revealed, and its interior becomes a veritable world-within-a-world, ripe with important insights and intriguing mysteries begging to be investigated.