The Antarctica may be teeming with diamonds inside its icy mountains with the discovery of a new type of rock, the Kimberlite, present in the continent.
Antarctica diamonds are one new discovery that the ice in the Antarctic may be yielding in the near future, as a new type of valuable rock, known as Kimberlite, has been found within the eastern reaches of the frozen tundra. Some Kimberlite deposits are known to possibly hold diamond, and that may mean that there is a lot of frozen money hidden in these desolate areas of the world. PBS shares this shining find for jewel lovers and the public alike this week in a Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013 report.
These Antarctica diamonds, encased within a new rock type, were first discovered earlier this year on a routine search mission. The groundbreaking form of ice isn’t really “ice” at all, but instead rare and valuable rock that is commonly known to yield diamonds. Kimberlite, the igneous rock in question, was discovered this December in the Prince Charles Mountains. The stone deposits were uncovered by a team of expert Australians, who said they found the long-frozen deposits near Mount Meredith.
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“No diamonds were found in the initial discovery, though researchers believe they are there. Greg Yaxley, of the Australian National University, told Reuters that "it would be very surprising" if no diamonds were in the kimberlite.”
However, people interested in digging up a bevy of Antarctica diamonds should take caution and keep their pick axes away from the icy region for now. Valuable as the potential for these diamonds may be, mining in the Antarctic has been banned for over 50 years following the 1991 protocol, an Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
The chilly Antarctic regions haven't just been making headlines for the potential of diamonds, either. A massive iceberg following a 15 mile fracture also prompted public interest earlier this July, while talk of global warming also keeps the area a hotly debated one.--Source: The Examiner