News Earth

A mineral found in a diamond’s flaws contains the source of some of Earth’s heat

The newfound mineral, dubbed davemaoite, only exists deep in Earth’s mantle

a slice of diamond with tiny gray blobs of a newfound mineral called davemaoite

The tiny gray blobs of mineral embedded in this slice of clear diamond are the first samples of newly named davemaoite, a calcium silicate perovskite mineral that only forms in the lower mantle.

Aaron Celestian/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

When it comes to knowing what actually lies deep inside the Earth, diamonds are a geologist’s best friend.