(Follow this link for abstracts of past issues)

ABSTRACT
A brief history of the GAA's Diamond Technology course.

DIAMONDS IN RUSSIA
- A Literature review

Francine Payette 
Perth, Western Australia

2003 Sutherland Medallist

ABSTRACT
This paper focuses on the geology of occurrences, the history of discoveries, the exploration techniques, the type of goods and the marketing of diamonds in Russia. This text is a review of the literature covering these topics that was presented as part of the Diploma of Diamond Technology Course. For this course, students are required to produce a research paper on selected topics, following specified parameters. 

Janelle Morris BSc, FGAA, Dip DT
Sancturary Cove, Queensland

ABSTRACT
In the past decade De Beers and the diamond pipeline have changed dramatically. De Beers, 'the guardian of the industry', once controlled over 90 per cent of the world's rough diamond supply, in the face of increased competition, plummeting share prices and the financial pressure of holding large buffer stockpiles, De Beers suffered reduced profits and decreased shareholder confidence. In addition their control of the rough market fell to an all time low of 60 per cent.

DIAMOND SIMULANTS
- A Literature review

Peter Cartwright
Dural, New South Wales

ABSTRACT
This review aims to provide an historical summary of the most common and convincing diamond simulants that have been used in jewellery over the past years. Identifying properties are tabulated and methods of how to separate simulants from diamond are described.