Diamond domination

New research has hinted at the possibility of a diamond seam in the south-eastern region of India, according to the Deccan Chronicle.

This could make the country the world leader in the diamond market in the near future.

Earlier studies had suggested that the Indian lithosphere is thin, but the work of the scientists involved in the study suggests otherwise. The team has found a 200,000-square-kilometre area with kimberlites and other kinds of rocks that are likely indicators of the presence of precious gems.

Kimberlites and lamproites are extremely difficult to locate, but the method could be the quickest and most cost-effective for diamond exploration. The Indian scientists claim to have found a new, cost-effective and quick search tool, using earthquake data, for identifying regions where diamonds could potentially occur.