The discovery of a method with which to turn common, inexpensive graphite into valuable diamonds using extremely high temperatures and applied pressure is by no means a new one. However, the method proves to be a complex, time consuming and expensive one and is not commonly implemented. Subsequently, scientists the world over have attempted to develop a more cost efficient, simpler method by which to convert graphite into diamonds. Michele Parrinello, Professor of Computational Science at ETH Zurich has done just that.

The key difference between graphite (a soft, malleable and inexpensive mineral) and diamonds (the world’s hardest, most durable natural mineral and one of the most sought after and expensive naturally formed mineral) lies mainly with these naturally formed minerals’ crystalline structures. While diamonds have a cubic crystal structure, graphite features a hexagonal structure. This minute disparity makes all the difference in terms of these carbon based minerals in terms of their durability, rarity and value.

By using advanced computer models, professor Parrinello and his team of gemological experts have successfully replicated the process wherein graphite changed its crystal structure from hexagonal to cubic. By using high pressure and by defining the structure of the atomic bonds within the mineral’s crystalline structure using a supercomputer, professor Parrinello found that graphite can be converted into diamonds which will posses all of the attributes and characteristics of naturally formed diamonds.

While conducting his research professor Parrinello found that structural defects present within the graphite’s natural crystal structure were actually beneficial to producing a diamond. As he explains it, defects within the graphite’s structure serve to diminish energy barriers which needed to be overcome in order to form a diamond core. Consequently, a graphite with a flawed crystal structure would be easier to convert into a diamond.

The implications are overwhelming and may yet revolutionize the diamond and precious gemstone market. If inexpensive, flawed graphite can be converted in mass into expensive, valuable diamonds with the traits of naturally formed diamonds, rough and polished diamonds will become more accessible to the general public, thus effectively lowering the cost of these precious gemstones. On the other hand, fashioning diamonds out of lesser minerals and materials is not a new concept and synthetically formed diamonds have been around for over fifty years. Still, customers seem to prefer naturally formed diamonds over synthetically fashioned diamonds, believing that artificially formed diamonds are inferior to naturally formed diamonds.