Diamonds from cremation ashes? Controversy & reality.

 With some cremation ashes remaining from my granddaughter, Courtney, I decided to do some research into the process, cost and validity of such a venture. Scientists and the public are very-divided on the matter, but one article specifically proved to be informative.

The process comes down to subjecting cremation ashes (actually ground-up bones) to extreme temperatures and pressures in order to extract any remaining carbon (in the form of calcium carbonate) in order to create a diamond.

There are varying views of whether or not the carbon that produces that special diamond is from your deceased loved one - depending on what firm, and its morality - does the job. And there are some individuals that say one carbon atom is like every other carbon atom, which is generally true. And the calcium carbonate from the deceased person's bones is in the same molecular configuration as the calcium carbonate in TUMS stomach reliever.

The truth is that the carbon atoms in such a diamond are the same as found in pencil graphite - only with a different configuration, but the important fact is that - if done by a legitimate firm with meticulous care and honesty - those carbon atoms in that diamond once were part of your loved one in his or her living form.

So there you are. For a few thousand dollars, you can have a small diamond which is composed (like other diamonds) only of carbon. Carbon exists in all living things, but the atoms present in that diamond may have special meaning for the surviving friends and family of an individual who no longer exists in a living form on the planet. But others will see no "special meaning" when they realize that a similar diamond could be produced by subjecting TUMS tablets to that same high temperature and pressure.