Author Archives: Metageologist

A deeper look at the geology of diamonds

The geology of diamonds is fascinating in itself, but they also give insights into wider geological processes and history. Up until 1725, diamonds were only known from India. That all changed when Brazilians panning river sediments for gold, instead found diamonds. Recent … Continue reading

Categories: diamonds, eclogites, geochemistry, subduction

Some facets of the Geology of Diamonds

Originally published on the Scientific American guest blog. Geoscientists can’t say if diamonds are forever, but they can say that some are already billions of years old. They form in a place we’ll never reach: the deep earth, hundreds of … Continue reading

Categories: diamonds, geochemistry, impacts, subduction

A harder look at the geology of diamonds

My recent post about diamonds was a rapid romp through some of the most marvellous things earth scientists have discovered about them. In the interests of keeping the casual reader engaged I left out many things. If this left you with … Continue reading

Categories: diamonds, eclogites, subduction

Structural Geology by the Deformation numbers

Structural geologists seek to understand how rocks have changed shape, in order to better understand wider processes such as how mountains are formed. Sometimes they use a terminology called ‘Deformation-numbers’ which I will now explain via a series of pretty … Continue reading

Categories: Ireland, metamorphism, tectonics