Product Description Amazon Review Diamonds have an enduring appeal but they are no more than one form of a very common element--carbon. This realisation and the promise of instant fame and fortune has provided the necessary stimulus for a succession of inventors, fraudsters and madmen to try their hand at artificially making diamonds. Diamonds can now be made from almost any form of carbon, from soot to peanut butter. Robert M. Hazen, an American research scientist, tells the often eccentric tales of The Diamond Makers for the general reader. From the early 1800s, claims of synthetic diamond production have been made but it was not until February 16, 1953, that success was finally achieved by Swedish scientists. By then the experimenters realised that making diamonds is not so easy. Nature can do it many kilometres deep within the earth or by hitting the earth with a large meteorite but reproducing these conditions in the lab are not so easy. It requires massive metal anvils capable of crushing rock material at over 60,000 atmospheres and then heating it to over 1500 degrees C. Alternatively controlled explosions can blast graphite into diamond at pressures in excess of 200,000 atmospheres. Hazen relishes the details of this macho science and technology and his laddish enthusiasm transfers well to the printed page. Nearly 50 black and white photos and figures, end notes and index make The Diamond Makers both informative and a good read. --Douglas Palmer Review 'Read it and spread the word.' Robert Matthews, New Scientist'Hazen represents the best of a rare breed … Most of us do not know that the immense pressures reached in the interior of cosmic bodies like the earth can also be generated in our laboratories. This fascinating book explains the technology and important results of this pathbreaking work.' Stephen Jay Gould'Very few scientists can convey the drama of scientific discovery and write as beautifully … Hazen is a natural storyteller.' Frank Press, Past President, National Academy of Sciences'Utterly absorbing new history … Hazen makes the story profoundly exciting, conveying the scientific passion of the researchers … It's a gem.' Curt Suplee, The Washington Post'Sparkling gem of technological history … Multifaceted and gleaming with drama and wit.' Kirkus Reviews'Hazen exposes struggles, rivalries, failures, and successes in a captivating story.' Library Journal'An amazing book … I would recommend it without qualification.' Calvin Bass, Tulsa World'Hazen tells the very interesting and gripping story of the manufacture of artificial diamonds in this fine book.' R. Rudman, Choice'This is a scientific thriller. It has a rich cast of characters engaged in a quest (to make the first artificial diamonds); it has the lure of riches; it has the rivalry of the participants; and it has danger (not for nothing did high pressure researchers call their apparatus 'bombs').' Richard Stevenson, Chemistry in Britain'The Diamond Makers is a first-class, fascinatingly well written history of the exciting developments that led to the creation of diamonds even from peanut butter.' William D. Romey, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY'… a compelling, nontechnical narrative covering centuries of history related to diamond, centred mostly around brilliant, often eccentric and controversial pioneers of research at high pressures … a thorough and exciting account.' Francis P. Bundy, Physics Today'I have been doing some studying and have just finished reading an outstanding book, The Diamond Makers by Robert M Hazen … The book is of special interest to materials scientists.' Materials World See all Product Description

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