STUDY OF THE BLUE MOON DIAMOND

Eloise Gaillou; Jeffrey E. Post; Keal S. Byrne; James E. Butler

doi:10.5741/GEMS.50.4.280

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Journal article

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Peer reviewed

STUDY OF THE BLUE MOON DIAMOND

Eloise Gaillou, Jeffrey E. Post, Keal S. Byrne and James E. Butler

Gems & gemology, Vol.50(4), pp.280-286

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5741/GEMS.50.4.280

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https://www.gia.edu/doc/GG-WN14-Gaillou.pdfView

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Abstract

Mineralogy

Physical Sciences

Science & Technology

The Blue Moon diamond, discovered in January 2014 at the historic Cullinan mine in South Africa, is of significance from both trade and scientific perspectives. The 29.62 ct rough yielded a 12.03 ct Fancy Vivid blue, Internally Flawless gem. The authors were provided the opportunity to study this rare diamond at the Smithsonian Institution before it went on exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Infrared spectroscopy revealed that the amount of uncompensated boron in the diamond was 0.26 ± 0.04 ppm, consistent with measurements of several large type IIb blue diamonds previously studied. After exposure to short-wave ultraviolet light, the Blue Moon displayed orange-red phosphorescence that remained visible for up to 20 seconds. This observation was surprising, as orange-red phosphorescence is typically associated with diamonds of Indian origin, such as the Hope and the Wittelsbach-Graff. Time-resolved phosphorescence spectra exhibited peaks at 660 and 500 nm, typical for natural type II blue diamonds. As with most natural diamonds, the Blue Moon showed strain-induced birefringence.

Details

Title: STUDY OF THE BLUE MOON DIAMOND
Authors/Creators: Eloise Gaillou - École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris
Jeffrey E. Post - Institut de Recherche en Génie Civil et Mécanique
Keal S. Byrne - Smithsonians Natl Museum Nat Hist, Washington, DC USA
James E. Butler - Naval Res Lab, Washington, DC 20375 USA
Publication Details: Gems & gemology, Vol.50(4), pp.280-286
Publisher: Gemological Institute of America Inc. (GIA)
Number of pages: 7
Identifiers: 991005621266107891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Engineering and Energy
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 5 Physics; 5.188 Deposition, Hardening & Coating; 5.188.262 Diamond Films
Web Of Science research areas: Mineralogy
ESI research areas: Geosciences