Inclusions in Diamond
Diamond often contains mineral inclusions of geological
interest. Because diamond is the hardest known material,
polishing down and exposing these inclusions is
time-consuming and often costly. Raman spectroscopy
allows inclusions to be identified whilst they are still
encapsulated in the diamond, because of the confocal
advantage and high spatial resolution that Raman
microscopy offers. Utilizing confocal Raman microscopy
to analyze below the surface is especially useful when
exposing an inclusion might contaminate it and prevent
further analysis, as is the case with isotopic analysis.