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Apatite inclusions in natural diamond coat

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Abstract

Electron microscopic techniques have been applied to investigate the composition and structure of the non-diamond particles, of submicrometre dimensions, that profusely populate the coat of natural coated diamonds. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis (EDS) has shown phosphorus to be commonly present in this included matter, and in the case of some individual crystallites calcium and phosphorus have been the only elements detected with atomic number greater than 11 (the minimum atomic number detectable in the experiments). The latter inclusions exhibit hexagonal prismatic facets and their electron diffraction pattern corresponds to the apatite structure. Approximate lattice parameter values found were c/a=0.73 with a=9.5 Å.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TL, Bristol, England

    A. R. Lang & J. C. Walmsley

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  1. A. R. Lang
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  2. J. C. Walmsley
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Lang, A.R., Walmsley, J.C. Apatite inclusions in natural diamond coat. Phys Chem Minerals 9, 6–8 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309462

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309462

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