AN academic could help find an answer to the problem of diamonds being illegally traded for weapons.

Dr Graham Pearson, of Durham University's geological sciences department, was among a group of experts invited to discuss the problem at the White House last week.

The US, which accounts for half of the world's diamond sales, is worried that the jewels are being sold illicitly to arm rebels fighting civil wars in Sierra Leone and Angola.

Officials are also concerned that the trade is undermining the legitimate trade in diamonds.

Dr Pearson, 35, said: "The US Government wanted to see if it could use technology and science to discriminate between legitimate diamonds and "conflict" diamonds.

"Unfortunately, diamonds are simple structures and there is a homogeneity about them and that is where the problem lies. It is about finding an element that offers a characteristic fingerprint.

"Right now it can't be done and the best approach is the certification system that is currently in use.

"But with three or four years of research we should be able to do something that could go hand in hand with certification, so that if there is any doubt about a diamond we could use a chemical technique to verify its provenance."

The department has been given new equipment after winning Government funding, and Dr Pearson, who will be researching with chemical analysis of diamonds could reveal where they have come from.

"We have to find a solution that will be practical.

"Some countries mark diamonds with lasers and micro-brand them. Any one approach is not going to give the answer."