The left image shows a diamond sample that contains the newly recognized mineral crowningshieldite, in the dark area circled in red. The sample is an offcut from a larger type IIa diamond from the Letseng mine, Lesotho. The right image shows an enlargement, using an electron microscope, where individual grains of crowningshieldite are seen in a fine grained mixture with other minerals. PHOTO CREDITS: EVAN M. SMITH (LEFT IMAGE) AND FABRIZIO NESTOLA (RIGHT IMAGE).
CARLSBAD, CA – Researchers at the Gemological Institute of America, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Padova, recently discovered a new mineral.
The mineral has been named crowningshieldite in honor of G. Robert Crowningshield, a pioneer in gemological research for more than 50 years at GIA, according to a press release from the organization. Crowningshieldite was discovered as an altered inclusion in two diamonds from the Letseng mine in Lesotho. GIA Research Scientist Dr. Evan M. Smith publicly announced the mineral at GIA’s annual research meeting and presented it at GIA’s International Gemological Symposium on Oct. 8.Crowningshieldite was accepted as a mineral on Sept. 18 by the International Mineralogical Association.
Smith and his team of researchers discovered crowningshieldite while examining inclusions in CLIPPIR diamonds – a variety of type IIa diamond that forms at significantly greater depths than most diamonds. Crowningshieldite is a nickel sulfide mineral with a hexagonal crystal structure and can be regarded as the high-temperature polymorph of the mineral millerite. It is also the naturally occurring analog to the synthetic compound known as α-NiS, according to the release.
The mineral is proposed to have formed by alteration or chemical modification of originally metallic, polyphasic inclusions. These iron and nickel-rich metallic inclusions are the most prevalent type of inclusion found in CLIPPIR diamonds.
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“Discoveries such as this propel our understanding of diamonds and the earth forward; this is why research is the cornerstone of GIA’s mission,” said Tom Moses, GIA executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer. “I can think of no better way to honor Mr. Crowningshield’s legacy.”
G. Robert Crowningshield took GIA and the young science of gemology to new scientific heights. His first breakthrough came in 1956, when he discovered and documented the spectroscopic feature characterizing yellow irradiated diamonds. In 1971, he wrote the first report on gem quality laboratory-grown diamonds. His observations about the identification criteria for laboratory-grown diamonds discussed in that article, such as color zoning, metallic inclusions and uneven patterns of UV fluorescence, are still used today for diamond identification.
Crowningshield is also recognized for reporting on many discoveries about pearls and colored stones. His 1983 landmark article described a naming convention for orange-pink “padparadscha” sapphires and he published more than a thousand brief observations in the regular Lab Notes column, which he originated in 1957, of Gems & Gemology, GIA’s quarterly professional journal.
Smith presented details about crowningshieldite at GIA’s sixth International Gemological Symposium, Oct. 7-9 in Carlsbad, CA. A specimen of the new mineral will be housed in GIA’s museum collection at the Institute’s headquarters in Carlsbad, CA.
