X-ray and synchrotron topography of twinned diamonds and of diamonds from Brazil

Abstract

X-ray diffraction topography, using both conventional and synchrotron sources, has been employed to reveal, to a resolution of 1mum, internal structural imperfections in diamonds from Brazil. Many of these diamonds were found to be twinned; and X-ray studies have been made of twinned diamonds from Brazil and elsewhere, in order to elucidate the mechanisms of twinning in diamond. Numerous X-ray topographs have been taken of contact twins (macles), inter-penetrant cubes and multiple twins. The well collimated beam of synchrotron radiation at the SERC Daresbury Laboratory has proved most useful in revealing, in the forward reflexion Laue photographs, small twinned regions of diamonds; the presence of which would have been missed by conventional methods.