What causes fluorescence?
Diamond is a very pure mineral. The most common impurity is a tiny amount of nitrogen (0.0001% to 0.01%) dispersed throughout the crystalline structure. When white light traverses a yellowish diamond some blue light is absorbed by the deformities in the crystal associated with the nitrogen causing a slight yellow appearance. Higher energy ‘light’ like x-rays or short wave ultra-violet can also cause the diamond to fluoresce and emit in the same frequency range that was previously only absorbed. Natural ultra-violet from daylight or even from some light globes is enough to make a fluorescent yellowish diamond appear whiter. Nitrogen can also occur in various ‘states’ with different electronic properties within a diamond so that it is possible for one D coloured non-fluorescent diamond to have 10 times more nitrogen than another that is K colour and fluorescent. History Background After the discovery of diamonds in South Africa in 1867 some mines were renowned for producing a percentage
