Popigai Crater Impact Diamond | Arctic Siberia, Russia

Popigai Crater Impact Diamond. This otherworldly gem is a gift from space. Millions of years ago, a meteorite struck the Earth in Northern Siberia, Russia, above the Arctic Circle. This ancient celestial event created a massive crater surrounded by diamonds, the Popigai Crater, known as Russia's Crater of Diamonds.

Most Popigai Crater impact diamonds are very small, 0.5 to 2mm. This impact diamond is a micro mount, but at 4 x 4mm it's surprisingly large for a Popigai diamond. This specimen is mostly spherical with a slight facets visible in the crystal structure, a black diamond with matte luster. 

• Impactite: Meteorite Impact Diamond
• Locality: Popigai Crater, Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
• Size Category: micro mount
• Size: 4mm x 4mm x 3.5mm
• Includes: 1.25" collectors box with id label
• Mounted with flexible clear silicone on acrylic base, can easily be removed if desired.

How On Earth Did This Happen?

About 36 Million years ago, an asteroid between 5-8 kilometers/3-5 miles in diameter, entered Earth's atmosphere at high velocity and struck in Northern Siberia, Russia. The impact produced a crater nearly 100 kilometers/60 miles wide. The impact site has a large deposit of graphite. When the meteorite struck, graphite in the ground became super heated and compressed enough to form small diamonds. The process is a phase transformation, where the structure of carbon atoms change from graphite to diamond or lonsdaleite (hexagonal diamond). The tabular shape and layered texture of the original graphite crystal structure is partially preserved but the mineral is transformed into diamond. In scientific studies, pressure tests show these meteorite impact diamonds are harder and more durable than Earth's natural diamonds. 

What Else to Know About Popigai Impact Diamonds

Popigai impact diamonds are very rare to see in person, to have an opportunity to own one is nearly unheard of. Since the impact site and entire surrounding area is completely off limits, reserved for scientific research, collecting is prohibited and strictly enforced by Russia. Russian scientists discovered the impact diamonds in the 1970s but it was kept secret until the late 1990s. 

The diamonds are fascinating to view up close with magnification from a microscope, jewelers loupe or magnifying glass. We acquired a very small amount of these Popigai Crater impact diamonds in an old mineral collection. Supply is very limited. Once they sell out, they're gone forever. 

Popigai is the fourth largest verified meteor crater on Earth and it's one of the most well-preserved meteor craters in the world.