What is the Popigai Crater?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
The Popigai Crater is a vast impact crater in Siberia, Russia, formed around 35 million years ago when a large meteorite struck the earth and the intense heat and pressure of the impact transformed the graphite in the local rock into diamonds in an instant. The crater holds the world's largest known diamond deposit, estimated to contain trillions of carats, far exceeding all other known reserves combined. These impact diamonds, called impactites, are generally small and extremely hard, making them more suited to industrial use than jewellery.
Frequently asked questions
- Are Popigai diamonds used in jewellery?
- These diamonds are mostly too small and irregular for gemstone use, so they are considered industrial diamonds rather than jewellery-quality stones. Their extreme hardness makes them valuable for cutting tools and abrasives, though they have not been commercially mined.
- How were the Popigai diamonds formed?
- A large meteorite impact transformed the graphite in the local bedrock into diamond in an extremely short, high-pressure event. This impact process produces a different type of diamond to the volcanic kimberlite pipes that yield most gem-quality stones.
- Why have the Popigai diamonds not been mined?
- The remote Siberian location and the largely industrial rather than gem quality of the stones have kept commercial mining uneconomical so far. The deposit was kept secret during the Soviet era and has been studied mainly by geologists.
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