What is the most common color cause of green color in diamonds?

What is the most common color cause of green color in diamonds?

• A. Nitrogen-related defects
• B. Boron impurities
• C. Radiation damage
• D. Radiation

Answer: (D)

Green color in diamonds is produced mainly by irradiation from natural radioactive sources in the surrounding rock. This ionizing radiation alters the diamond’s lattice, creating color centers that absorb some wavelengths and let green be seen. This mechanism is much more common than colors caused by nitrogen or boron impurities (nitrogen tends to give yellow/brown, boron gives blue). So the trigger for this green hue is the radiation exposure that forms those color centers, though some green diamonds are later produced or enhanced by artificial irradiation and heat treatment.

Green color in diamonds is produced mainly by irradiation from natural radioactive sources in the surrounding rock. This ionizing radiation alters the diamond’s lattice, creating color centers that absorb some wavelengths and let green be seen. This mechanism is much more common than colors caused by nitrogen or boron impurities (nitrogen tends to give yellow/brown, boron gives blue). So the trigger for this green hue is the radiation exposure that forms those color centers, though some green diamonds are later produced or enhanced by artificial irradiation and heat treatment.