RE: Digital X-Ray Can Scan Body in 13 Seconds

[Susan L Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

Diamonds come in a range of sizes.  The largest are the rarest, as one

might expect.  The "ore" is kimberlite, which I recall being described

as similar to a hard clay.  A large diamond would be obvious in the

matrix and fairly easy to dislodge with a pocket knife.  By the way,

kimberlite is a type of gassy igneous rock that is emplaced rapidly into

the earth's crust, characterized more by great pressure than high

temperature.  Some discussion about formation of diamonds is found at

http://brysonburke.com/barren_lands.html



I like Earnie Faillance's idea of random screening with the X-ray. 

Combine that with zero tolerence for theft (being fired at the first

offense) and I expect that would be an effective deterrent.



Thanks everyone for the variety of responses I received.  Obviously

there is no "right" answer, but the question generated a lot of

thoughtful discussion.



Susan Gawarecki



John Jacobus wrote:

> I assume that the diamonds are not loose, but are

> still encased in the ore in which they are found.  If

> they were that size and loose, how would you find

> them?  See

> http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/diamonds/process.html

> 

> - --- "Mercado, Don" <don.mercado@lmco.com> wrote:

> > True, but in a recent issue of National Geographic

> > featuring the diamond

> > industry, some of those diamonds are so small they

> > can fit into the pores of

> > a strawberry. The benefit of swallowing ore

> > containing strawberry-pore sized

> > diamonds is questionable, but the workors are

> > desperately poor. With current

> > technology, what is the smallest diamond that could

> > be resolved on an image

> > intensified image? 



-- 

.....................................................

Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director

Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee

102 Robertsville Road, Suite B, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Toll free 888-770-3073 ~ www.local-oversight.org

.....................................................

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