Johannesburg Chapter: Diamonds in the Rough - Natural Crystal Shapes and Surface Features

Join the GIA Alumni Chapter Johannesburg for a virtual event with GIA Research Scientist Dr. Evan Smith as he unravels the story behind rough diamonds’ unique morphologies.
 
Once cut and polished, diamonds of similar size, shape and quality may look similar to the unaided eye. But in their rough form, natural diamonds have distinctive morphologies that tell much about their formation and their volcanic journey to Earth’s surface. Natural diamonds can form as glassy octahedral crystals, flat macles, in unusual spherical shapes and more. During their volcanic transit up to Earth’s surface, they also often acquire intricate markings from corrosive fluids.
 
This event is not to be missed if you would like to learn more about the natural crystal shapes and surface features of a diamond.
 
Dr. Evan Smith is a research scientist at the GIA Laboratory in New York. His area of expertise is diamond geology, including the study of how diamonds form and what they can tell us about the Earth. Dr. Smith’s research has been published in the leading scientific journals, Science and Nature. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Geological Engineering from Queen’s University, and a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of British Columbia.
 
The event will start with a 15 minute ‘Meet & Greet’ opportunity which is followed by the presentation and Q&A starting at 2:00 p.m. (GMT+2).