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posted by mrpg on Wednesday July 18 2018, @03:50AM   Printer-friendly
from the I-prefer-charcoal dept.

Sound waves reveal diamond cache deep in Earth's interior

There may be more than a quadrillion tons of diamond hidden in the Earth's interior, according to a new study from MIT and other universities. But the new results are unlikely to set off a diamond rush. The scientists estimate the precious minerals are buried more than 100 miles below the surface, far deeper than any drilling expedition has ever reached.

The ultradeep cache may be scattered within cratonic roots — the oldest and most immovable sections of rock that lie beneath the center of most continental tectonic plates. Shaped like inverted mountains, cratons can stretch as deep as 200 miles through the Earth's crust and into its mantle; geologists refer to their deepest sections as "roots."

In the new study, scientists estimate that cratonic roots may contain 1 to 2 percent diamond. Considering the total volume of cratonic roots in the Earth, the team figures that about a quadrillion (1016) tons of diamond are scattered within these ancient rocks, 90 to 150 miles below the surface.

"This shows that diamond is not perhaps this exotic mineral, but on the [geological] scale of things, it's relatively common," says Ulrich Faul, a research scientist in MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. "We can't get at them, but still, there is much more diamond there than we have ever thought before."

Also at National Geographic and Discover Magazine.

Multidisciplinary Constraints on the Abundance of Diamond and Eclogite in the Cratonic Lithosphere (DOI: 10.1029/2018GC007534) (DX)


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @08:01AM (8 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @08:01AM (#708702)

    Ok, ok, I am a bit selfish, as I see the purchase of a diamond only as some sort of demonstration of affection for a woman - the thought that one would expend so much of one's resources to someone else just to signal that you will play the game of matrimony by whatever rules you have to follow, and the diamond itself is only a token to pass around to show you did not skimp out on the payment.

    I think this diamond crap is beyond foolish, and one should be more concerned with starting off with having their own personal finances in order and debts paid before one even thinks of buying completely useless stuff like this.

    But we have let DeBeers bamboozle us into thinking that we must give them a sizeable chunk of the family fortune to show love for a mate.

    We, as a species, seem so damned gullible to marketing, where most of us will believe anything we are told. So anxious to make a good impression. Those of us who understand how this works subjugate all the lesser dummies to be eternal debt slaves. And the debt slaves still obey.

    I find this whole thing with diamond rings to be a ridiculous farce, but if they've convinced everyone else this is how its got to be, its either play the game or stay single, I suppose.

    ( Things used to be worse.... Hollywood had American women all in a snit over mink coats, mink stoles, and other displays of meaningless stuff whose only use was to be able to afford something out of range for someone else.... to me its a wonder that those women ever found husbands. I know I sure would not want one of those women in my life - the sooner I could get away from that kind of crap, the happier I would be! I had just as soon leave that saggy old bag of tits at her high priced Bullocks Wilshire furs counter and find myself someone who would rather do stuff and have fun. )

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @09:33AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @09:33AM (#708721)

    > either play the game or stay single

    Sensible female critters do exist.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @12:36PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @12:36PM (#708741)

      I don't believe you.
      All the evidence I have obtained proves otherwise.

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by MostCynical on Thursday July 19 2018, @12:35AM

      by MostCynical (2589) on Thursday July 19 2018, @12:35AM (#709103) Journal

      female is a mental state
      It is a form of insanity.

      If it weren't so common, it would be in DSM, and there would be treatment, or at least therapy.

      Even the apparently "sane" ones turn out to be mad, in the end.

      We love them anyway.

      --
      "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by AthanasiusKircher on Wednesday July 18 2018, @12:57PM (2 children)

    by AthanasiusKircher (5291) on Wednesday July 18 2018, @12:57PM (#708749) Journal

    I find this whole thing with diamond rings to be a ridiculous farce, but if they've convinced everyone else this is how its got to be, its either play the game or stay single, I suppose.

    As an AC already said, your statement presupposes that all women view finances the same, which is NOT true. There are people out there (both male and female) who would roughly agree with your financial perspective. (Though your vaguely misogynist language and attitude toward the end of your post could be a bigger issue with the ladies...)

    It's a stereotype to brand women with this attitude, but there are plenty of examples of men in the world who are similarly financially stupid, love getting into debt, live paycheck-to-paycheck, and couldn't save money if they tried. They deserve the type of women you complain about: the two can live happily (or, likely, not so happily) together in debt and go through multiple bankruptcies together.

    I'd go so far as to say that the MOST crucial element of a successful long-term relationship is financial compatibility. Forget some stupid eHarmony quiz or whatever other BS some matchmaker service will peddle. If you asked me to predict which couples will not only stay together but will be relatively happy together, I'd just ask them a short questionnaire about financial priorities. As any experienced relationship therapist will tell you, arguments about money are the most common tension in most relationships. So find someone who shares your perspective -- because they do exist. If you instead find someone who grudgingly goes along with your "I'm not going to get you a big diamond" perspective but clearly is unable to manage money and complains about lacking stuff... run away. I speak from personal experience that you don't want a partner who always "wants more" -- because they'll never be satisfied as long as they see a balance in your bank account. They'll just want to spend, spend, spend... even on random crap that isn't expensive but eats away at savings all the time.

    I once counseled a friend through such a crisis. She was a very successful woman with a great job (manager in a STEM field) and made a very decent salary. Her husband made about 1/3 of the salary she did. But all he did was complain about needing to spend money on stuff. And if she didn't agree, he'd just keep bringing it up again and again until she gave in. Despite her high salary, her finances were a disaster because he kept persuading her to take on more and more debt and loans. She lived in continuous anxiety about money, and she kept giving up her own stuff to try to finance his ridiculous priorities. (It got bad enough that she could only buy clothes at a thrift store for herself, while he was happily throwing money away.)

    There was a huge relationship mismatch. It can easily happen with men who spend too. Eventually, she got herself out of that relationship, but it was tough -- and she had years of debt still to pay off, despite the fact that she was naturally a "saver."

    Point being again: women exist who will share your perspective. You just have to look for them. Just realize that a woman with your perspective is likely not going to be found in the "usual haunts" to just pick up women -- and she's not likely going to be decked out in sexy fashionable clothes. She might look more "homely" superficially (women who eschew material goods often don't tend to wear a lot of makeup and other outward displays of social "gameplaying" either), but that's not what generally matters in long-term happiness for relationships. (And frankly, some of the most beautiful women I've ever had the privilege of getting to know wouldn't stand out in a crowd -- they didn't have fancy clothes, often baggy or even "tom-boyish" outfits, little or no makeup, no fancy hairdo, but then you see what's under the clothes.... Women -- and men -- who aren't into the typical social signals of success and wealth often don't flaunt themselves publicly either.)

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @08:33PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @08:33PM (#708981)

      This. It also applies to vacation methods.

      Do you work harder on vacation than you do at work OR do you vacation in the wake anytime little planning method?

      My wife and I plan whole days starting with 6-7am go times. Several stops or one big one as is appropriate. This leads to a friend who goes with us upset we are going to leave them behind. Negotiating with yourself sucks. Never again. Feel free to do what you want. But I didn't travel to a historical city to wait cause a friend stayed up late. And I would go so far to add this to a similar to financial methods a marriage needs in common. If my wife didn't vacation like I do, I or she would be annoyed as ever the whole vacation.

      And vacations are one of the best times we have. Luckily for us. As for the friend? Hardly talk to them. Offended and all that :)

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 19 2018, @07:13AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 19 2018, @07:13AM (#709261)

      Thanks. I am certainly not looking for the type that hang around the MAC counter at Macy's, that's fer sure. I would love to be able to say I met my mate at Home Depot or while taking a walk around the neighborhood. I hate bars. I neither smoke nor drink, and many would call me quite stingy. But if the car breaks down, I will not lose sleep over it. I don't have and flat do not want a fancy car.... I have a huge 25 year old beater that I am quite comfortable with. I know how its made and how it works, and have far more confidence in it than I have for the modern machines. And its a personal philosophy that I keep my bills paid, not be in debt, and have a bit left over so if I should kick the bucket, there's enough there to do the services and a bit more to help my family.

      I have no intention of playing that damned "I'm richer than you" game, and would much rather go on a road trip and just look at things. If people see me as a homeless bum, I'd rather have them see me that way rather than have them see me as the rich sunnafabitch who extorts resources from everyone else, living on unearned ( legally stolen ) income.

      I do not like makeup on women. It makes them look like a clown. I see all these "before" and "after" photos from these so called beauty services, and I usually prefer the "before" photo. Once they get through with them, the lady looks too much like a gold-digger, and absolutely useless. Just a pain-in-the-ass to have around. I want an older model, good and sturdy. If I find her attractive, she would look fine to me even if she were dressed in an old burlap feed sack. I don't dress up either. Its WalMart jeans for me. And whatever T-shirts I find at garage sales... just so long as they don't have flamebait crap printed on them. Damned if I'm paying extra just for some brand logo.

      I need someone that doesn't consider me as just a stepping stool on her way up to something better. Yes, I would choose a mate almost exactly like I choose a vehicle: I want someone I can be comfortable with, and is not some sort of show-thing always stirring up trouble for me. I deliberately chose a vehicle I know I can go through the desert and come back, damn near no matter what. I want a companion of similar robustness, knowing I don't have to worry that another guy come by and poof! She's gone. Finicky expensive thing that isn't worth a hoot.

      Nor do I want anyone constantly goading me to earn more money. There is a tradeoff between having enough time and enough money. I have enough to live on. I had just as soon enjoy what time I have left. I highly resent being nagged into trading more hours of my life for the purchase of trinkets whose sole purpose is to signal wealth. I have been around wealthy people, and I really don't want to emulate some of the things I see them do. Some people can be wealthy and you would never know it... those are the kind I like. Others can appear to be wealthy but are in reality head-over-heels in debt trying to maintain that illusion in public... and that's the kind of life I am trying to avoid at all costs.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @03:01PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @03:01PM (#708796)

    > I see the purchase of a diamond only as some sort of demonstration of affection for a woman

    Funny, I see the purchase of a diamond as a good way to dress a grinding wheel.
        2 minute video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRIsTcADhC0 [youtube.com]

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 19 2018, @06:25AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 19 2018, @06:25AM (#709245)

      Great way to signal your love for your mate... Give her an Industrial Abrasive!