Science Questions

I think I'm right in saying that diamonds are produced by some volcanoes. Why? Les in Over

They are certainly produced due to volcanic action. Diamonds are formed in diatreme pipes, which are a kind of very steep sided vent down into the Earth. This provides the very high pressure and temperature that diamonds need to form. So it's more of a drilling downwards effect than a coming up and exploding out of a volcano effect. You need the high temperatures, but principally you need the high pressures as well.

January 2006