Dr. Larry Taylor, professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, will present “30,000 Diamonds in a Rock: Messengers from 100 Miles Deep” at the next UT Science Forum Friday, April 24. This is the final lecture of the UTSF spring 2015 series.
It is rare to find diamonds in their host rock from deep within the Earth. Kimberlite volcanic magmas always break the host rocks apart on their long journey, thereby releasing the diamonds. However, we have a unique piece of the mantle containing more than 30,000 diamonds – all less than 1 millimeter in size–a few dollars total, but of huge value to science!
The Science Forum is a weekly lunch lecture series that takes place in the Thompson-Boling Arena Cafe, Rooms C-D from noon to 1 p.m. It is free and open to the public.