How Are Blue Diamonds Made?
Diamond formation Diamonds are formed nearly 100 miles below the Earth’s surface in the mantle. Millions of years ago, carbon dioxide molecules crystallized under the mantle’s extreme heat and pressure forming the diamonds. Adding Color Additional elements must be present during the diamond’s formation phase to inject color into the gem, which makes colored diamonds so rare. In the case of the blue diamond, that element is either small amounts of boron or a large amount of hydrogen. Transported to the Surface At some point in the diamond’s life cycle, far beneath the Earth’s surface, a tunnel opens up in the Earth’s mantle, below where the diamonds form. Molten flow from the Earth’s core shoots through that tunnel to the surface, taking the diamonds along for the ride.
