MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. The diamond rains of Neptune, along with precious gems believed to exist on Uranus, Jupiter, and Saturn, could one day become a valuable resource for building structures on other planets, should transporting synthetic diamonds from Earth prove economically unfeasible, according to Mikhail Charny, a leading expert at the National Technological Initiative (NTI).
Neptune and Uranus are gas giants that lack a solid surface. Their atmospheres are composed of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of methane. Scientists theorize that these planets experience diamond rains, as carbon within their interiors transforms into diamonds under extreme temperatures and pressures, accumulating at the boundary of their solid cores. Gemstones may also form in the depths of Jupiter and Saturn. When asked about the feasibility of mining and utilizing these deposits, Charny outlined a scenario in which such resources could become essential for constructing facilities in space.
"Alongside research objectives, extracting these materials may prove beneficial if diamonds are required for building infrastructure and industries on neighboring planets, especially if the cost of transporting synthetic diamonds from Earth is prohibitively high," Charny explained, representing the Foodnet working group of the NTI.
Mining and transport challenges
Pavel Kamnev, the Commercial Director of the Laboratory of the Future and an expert on the Aeronet STI market, noted that astronauts are currently capable of transporting soil samples from the Moon to Earth. Research is ongoing into modules designed for missions to Mars and Jupiter. However, the development of these technologies appears to be a "distant prospect" that requires overcoming significant technological challenges.
"Of course, if push comes to shove, we could expedite the development of these technologies," he added.
Andrey Novikov, Deputy Dean of the Special Engineering Department at Bauman Moscow State Technical University and a market analyst for Aeronet NTI, listed several prerequisites needed in order to collect diamonds on other planets. These include super-heavy rockets, spacecraft with substantial fuel reserves, and advanced braking and re-entry systems.
"These technologies must ensure not only a successful flight to another planet but also efficient diamond collection and safe return to Earth. Economically speaking, it is currently impractical to extract gems on distant planets for use on Earth," he emphasized.
Astronomically pricey diamonds from Neptune?
When speculating about the potential cost of a diamond from Neptune, considering extraction and delivery expenses, Novikov estimated it could be in the tens of billions of dollars per kilogram.
Charny noted that on the market, a raw diamond that has been cut and polished is valued at several hundred thousand rubles per carat, with prices varying based on clarity, color, and size.
"The delivery cost for one carat from Neptune could be astronomical. If we consider transporting tons of diamonds, the production cost would decrease significantly, yet it would still exceed current market prices," he explained.
Charny also mentioned that if diamond mining on other planets becomes a reality, these rough diamonds could find applications in microelectronics. However, extraterrestrial diamonds would face competition from synthetic stones, whose value has dropped by an average of 75% in recent years, he pointed out.