Ecology
Scientists said they found evidence that diamonds are hidden in Antarctica's icy mountains.
Australian geologists first discovered kimberlite, a volcanic rock that often contains diamonds on a vast, frozen continent.
Diamonds are formed from pure carbon under extreme heat and pressure at a depth of about 150 km in the Earth's crust.
Volcanic eruptions bring valuable crystals to the surface, usually preserved in kimberlites.
Kimberlite and where diamonds are found
The presence of kimberlite indicates significant diamond deposits in several parts of the world, including Africa, Siberia and Australia.
Kimberlite was found in the Prince Charles Mountains in East Antarctica.
“The fact that kimberlites of the first group were found is important, as diamonds are most often found in this type of kimberlite eruption,” said Teal Riley, a British geologist Antarctic Authority.
Experts believe that kimberlite advanced to the surface about 120 million years ago when Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, South America, the Indian Subcontinent, Australia and Antarctica were joined together in one Gondwana supercontinent.
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The continents later split, which explains why diamonds are found in different parts of the world from Brazil to Africa and India.
Kimberlite has now been found on every continent. The breed was named after the South African city of Kimberley, where in 1871 a chef found a huge stone that turned out to be an 85-carat diamond, causing a diamond fever.
Antarctic exploration
But even if this harsh place is full of diamonds, there are several significant obstacles to mining them.
According to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, any activity for the extraction of natural resources, with the exception of scientific purposes, is prohibited on its territory.
However, this protocol will be revised in 2041 and may be amended.