Infrared Absorption Investigations Confirm the Extraterrestrial Origin of Carbonado Diamonds

The first complete infrared FTIR absorption spectra for carbonado-diamondconfirm the interstellar origin for the most enigmatic diamonds known ascarbonado. All previous attempts failed to measure the absorption ofcarbonado-diamond in the most important IR-range of 1000-1300 cm-1 (10.00-7.69micro-m.) because of silica inclusions. In our investigation, KBr pellets weremade from crushed silica-free carbonado-diamond and thin sections were alsoprepared. The 100 to 1000 times brighter synchrotron infrared radiation permitsa greater spatial resolution. Inclusions and pore spaces were avoided and/orsources of chemical contamination were removed. The FTIR spectra ofcarbonado-diamond mostly depict the presence of single nitrogen impurities, andhydrogen. The lack of identifiable nitrogen aggregates in the infrared spectra,the presence of features related to hydrocarbon stretch bonds, and theresemblance of the spectra to CVD and presolar diamonds indicate thatcarbonado-diamonds formed in a hydrogen-rich interstellar environment. This isconsistent with carbonado-diamond being sintered and porous, with extremelyreduced metals, metal alloys, carbides and nitrides, light carbon isotopes,surfaces with glassy melt-like patinas, deformation lamellae, and a completeabsence of primary, terrestrial mineral inclusions. The 2.6-3.8 billion yearold fragmented body was of asteroidal proportions