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Report on Joint JMG-IGM-GSM Technical Talk : Diamond - from Gemmology to Geology

Title: Diamond - from Gemmology to Geology

Speaker: Mr. Tay Thye Sun, Far East Gem Lab, Singapore

Venue: JMG Sarawak Office, Kenyalang Park, Kuching, Sarawak

Date: 11th November 2016 (Friday)

A recorded close to 40 attendance from the fraternity of geologists and non-geologists alike from Kuching, Sarawak were given a rare treat by Mr. Tay Thye Sun’s enthralling, very informative 2-hour technical talk on “Diamond - from Gemmology to Geology” at JMG Sarawak Office, Kenyalang Park, Kuching, Sarawak on 11th November 2016.

Mr. Tay began the talk by introducing the history of diamond that was first found in India around 2000 BC and how it has become valuable and associated with power and social status. He went on to explain the natural diamonds verses imitations and synthetic diamonds. He dealt at length on Kalimantan diamond: explaining the history of diamond mining, its occurrence and geology of the associated areas, its production, its characteristics and a number of past studies carried out on Kalimantan diamond. He ended the talk by emphasizing that more studies is needed to know the diamond crystals structure and its formation, in order to complete the story of Kalimantan deposits.

By: Ling Nan Ley, Secretary, Institute of Geology Malaysia