Exotic Ice Diamonds Have Never Been Seen in Nature

For most of us, ice types are usually just stones. But scientists have classified no fewer than 16 types, created under different conditions and with different crystal structures.

Key Facts About Diamonds

Ice VII has a cubic structure, and can form at room temperature from water with pressure below 30,000 atmospheres. This structure is thought to appear in nature on other planets and moons, such as Titan and Europa.

The new study marked the first time Ice VII was found naturally on Earth, making the International Minerals Association officially recognize it as a mineral. This unique water crystal is found in the form of impurities in diamonds, formed inside the earth and developed accretion over time.

Why Diamonds Matters

The team said the diamonds formed in the coating 500 miles (805 km) below the surface, at temperatures above 538 degrees Celsius.

Currently, ice crystals are solid while fastened to diamonds, but at those depths, it can exist in liquid form, indicating more water in the earth. The traces of Ice VII are found in diamonds from China, South Africa and Botswana, it seems to be available all over the world.

Oliver Tschauner, the first author of the study, said: "These discoveries are very important to show that the regions rich in water in the earth can play a role in global water sources and the movement of radioactive elements This is part of the puzzle to understand how our planet works in the past. ".

The researchers said the finding was done by chance, when they hunted for carbon dioxide. The search should also help scientists build better models of how and where temperatures are created inside the planet.

The study is published in the journal Science.