OCR Text |
Show HOW DIAMONDS MAY EXPLODE. Cases In Which Only Ordinary Decree of Heat Is Necessary. It lias long been known that diamonds, dia-monds, cspoclntly tho class known as "roso diamonds," aro likely to oxplodo If subjected only to what would Beem a very ordinary degreo of heat, such as strong rays from tho sun, etc. It Is now believed that tho explosions aro tho result of tho rapid expansion of certain volatile liquids Inclosed In cavities cavi-ties near tho contcr or thoso precious ctoncs. A great many diamonds, even though cut,' mounted nnd worn as gems of perfection, aro still In an unfinished condition that Is, tho liquid drop from which tho stono Is being formed has not as yet deposited all of its "pure crystals of carbon." These movablg drops mny occasionally bo seen with tho naked eye. When this Is tho case, a strong ml-croscopo ml-croscopo will give tho drop tho appear-unco appear-unco of a bubblo in tho fluid of a carpenter's level. It Ib nlso highly probablo that besides tho liquid mentioned men-tioned thoso cavities may contain gases under great tension. This being iho caBo, ono may readily comprehend how a very small amount of heat would causo tho liquid and gas to expand ex-pand to such a degreo that tho diamond dia-mond would glvo way with all tho characteristics of a mlnlaturo explosion. |