Throughout human history gemstones have captured our imaginations with their beauty and rarity and while most gemstones are formed within the Earth's crust, there exists an ever rarer category: gemstones from outer space.

Origin: Extraterrestrial 

Not only do these celestial gemstones offer a deep conceptual allure but, they also provide insights into the universe's formation and the dynamic processes that have shaped our planet and the vast expanse beyond. So, without further ado let us delve into these extraterrestrial treasures, uncover their origins, characteristics and the events that brought them to Planet Earth.

Peridot: birthed by a dying star

Peridot is the gem-quality variety of a mineral called "Olivine". To be gemstone quality the mineral has to be very pure with few other materials captured inside it. Olivine is typically found in volcanic rocks on Earth. However, we know peridot forms elsewhere in the universe for specimens have arrives on our planet via meteorites known as "pallasites". 

Pallasites are a rare type of stone-iron meteorite that is characterised by a mosaic of metallic iron-nickel and translucent olivine crystals. They form at the core-mantel barrier within a larger parent asteroid and when the parent asteroid collides with another, the body shatters and fragments hurtling through space. Occasionally, these fragments intersect our orbit, survive atmospheric entry and deliver their peridot to our planet's surface.

Gem-Quality Peridot from Space

The peridot crystals found in pallasites are often of remarkable clarity and color, rivaling or even surpassing their terrestrial counterparts. When cut and polished, these space-born gems exhibit a rich, olive-green hue. Collectors and gem enthusiasts highly prize such specimens, not only for their beauty but for their unique origin story.

Diamonds: tiny treasures from the cosmos

Diamonds are synonymous with Planet Earth's geology forming under extreme pressure and temperature conditions deep within the mantle. However, microscopic diamonds have also been discovered in certain meteorites and this offers us a glimpse into high-pressure processes occurring in space.

Nanodiamonds in Meteorites

Some meteorites usually classified as ureilites, contain tiny diamonds known as nanodiamonds. These microscopic gems are thought to form through high-pressure shock events during collisions in space or possibly within dying stars. Their presence in meteorites provides valuable information about the conditions and processes in the early solar system.

Moissanite: stardust on Earth

Moissanite, or silicon carbide (SiC), is a rare mineral on Earth but has been identified in certain meteorites, suggesting an extraterrestrial origin. Moissanite was first discovered in a meteor crater in Arizona by Dr. Henri Moissan in 1893. This occurrence of the material in meteorites indicates formation in stellar environments. Its presence provides insights into the chemical processes occurring in stars and the materials present in the early solar system. Moissanite is a material that can be created synthetically under laboratory conditions and it is this synthetic variety that has become commonplace in modern jewellery designs. 

Gold: forged in the heart of colliding stars

This list would not be complete without mentioning the origin of metals. We all know that gold's allure is timeless, but its cosmic origin is a tale of cataclysmic cosmic events.

Neutron Star Collisions: The Birthplace of Gold

Gold is formed through a process known as rapid neutron capture, or the r-process, which occurs in environments with a high flux of neutrons. One of the primary sites for the r-process is during the collision of neutron stars. When these dense stellar remnants merge they create conditions extreme enough to forge heavy elements like gold. As the gargantuan explosion occurs over millions of year, the debris materials disperse into space, eventually integrating into forming planetary systems, including our own.

Gold's Journey to Earth

The gold present on Earth today likely originated from stellar collisions and as the epochs of time unfurled the gold was incorporated into the dust and gas that coalesced to form our planet. Over billions of years, the geological processes of Planet Earth have concentrated this gold into deposits which humans have mined and cherished throughout history.

Silver: a product of a supernova

Silver, like gold, also owes its existence to the life cycles of the stars.

Supernovae: Silver's Stellar Foundry

While gold is primarily formed in neutron star collisions, silver is thought to be produced in a different types of stellar explosion: the supernova. If a star has a great enough mass, when it reaches the end of its life it annihilates itself in a massive explosion. These explosions are so vast and have been recorded by our ancestors as though a second sun appears in the sky. These massive star explosions scatter heavy elements, including silver, into space, seeding future star systems with these materials.

Moldavite: the gemstone born on impact

Moldavite is a unique green vitreous silica rock formed by the impact of a meteorite. Approximately 15 million years ago, a meteorite impact in present-day Europe resulted in the formation of Moldavite. The intense heat and pressure from the impact melted surrounding rocks, ejecting molten material that cooled and solidified into tektites (types of glass), including moldavite. These glassy stones are predominantly found in the Czech Republic and are prized for their distinctive green colour and intriguing patterns.

Trinitite: the accidental gem of the atomic age

Trinitite, also known as atomsite or Alamogordo glass, is a man-made glass formed during the first nuclear bomb test.

On July 16, 1945, the Trinity test in New Mexico marked the dawn of the atomic age. The explosion's immense heat melted the desert sand which cooled into a greenish glass now known as trinitite. While not of extraterrestrial origin, trinitite represents a fusion of human technological advancement and geological transformation, creating a unique and poignant material.

Earth's Connection to the Cosmos

The existence of gemstones and metals with extraterrestrial origins serve as a tangible reminder of Earth's connection to the broader cosmos. From peridot-bearing meteorites to gold forged in stellar collisions, these celestial treasures tell stories of cosmic processes spanning billions of years. They invite us to not only ponder our place in the universe but also the dynamic events that have shaped our cosmos. As we continue to explore space and study these remarkable materials we deepen our understanding of the intricate tapestry of matter and energy that constitutes cosmos.

It is a beautiful thing to know that the gold and silver jewellery you wear bears the history of our universe within it.