Observations on the reported incidence of micro-diamonds in the beach sands of the Kanyakumari Coast, Tamil Nadu

摘要

Fourteen beach samples were collected between Uvary in the northeast and Kanyakumari in the southwest within a coastal stretch of 50 km were studied to confirm the reported occurrence of micro-diamonds in Pulimankulam beach sands. The XRD results suggest that grains with brilliant luster are mainly zircon and the presence of microdiamond could not be ascertained in any of the samples. The fusion of samples with NaOH and further digestion in acid did not leave any residue. This also confirms absence of any non-silicate mineral in the samples.