Diamonds from the Mir Pipe (Yakutia): Spectroscopic Features and Annealing Studies

For this study, 21 samples of colorless octahedral diamonds (weighing 5.4-55.0 mg) from the Mir pipe (Yakutia) were investigated with photoluminescence (PL), infrared (IR), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. Based on the IR data, three groups of diamonds belonging to types IIa, IaAB, and IaB were selected and their spectroscopic features were analyzed in detail. The three categories of stones exhibited different characteristic PL systems. The type IaB diamonds demonstrated dominating nitrogen-nickel complexes S2, S3, and 523 nm, while they were less intensive or even absent in the type IaAB crystals. The type IIa diamonds showed a double peak at 417.4 + 418.7 nm (the 418 center in this study), which is assumed to be a nickel-boron defect. In the crystals analyzed, no matter which type, 490.7, 563.5, 613, and 676.3 nm systems of various intensity could be detected; moreover, N3, H3, and H4 centers were very common. The step-by-step annealing experiments were performed in the temperature range of 600-1700 degrees C. The treatment at 600 degrees C resulted in the 563.5 nm system's disappearance; the interstitial carbon vacancy annihilation could be considered as a reason. The 676.5 nm and 613 nm defects annealed out at 1500 degrees C and 1700 degrees C, respectively. Furthermore, as a result of annealing at 1500 degrees C, the 558.5 and 576 nm centers characteristic of superdeep diamonds from Sao Luis (Brazil) appeared. These transformations could be explained by nitrogen diffusion or interaction with the dislocations and/or vacancies produced.

Automated summary

In this study, 21 colorless octahedral diamonds from the Mir pipe in Yakutia were analyzed using various spectroscopic techniques. Different types of diamonds exhibited varying spectroscopic features and defect centers. Annealing experiments at different temperatures revealed the disappearance of certain defects and the appearance of new defect centers in diamonds.