Diamond potential and origin of� kimberlites.

Kogarko L.N.

Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia

Alkaline and carbonatitic �magmatism appeared on Arhean-Proterozoic border- 2.5-2.7 b y The activity of alkaline and carbonatitic magmatism increased continuously throughout the Earth's history (Fig. 1). Moreover its intensity� increased throughout geologic time. Kimberlites appeared later (2000-1400 Ma) and also their activity increased (Fig 2) At the same time the diamond potential of kimberlites continuously dropped.(fig 3). We develop (Kogarko 2005) the conception of gradual� oxidation of Earth mantle as result of subduction of oxidized oceanic crustal material.

With the increasing of oxygen fugasity in mantle the� stability field of diamond decrease and they are burned out resulting in the decreasing of diamond potential of kimberlites.

At this moment the hypotesis of metasomatic origin of diamonds is widely accepted.

The question arises� as to the genesis of high potassium melts-fluids in the mantle.When� mantle diapir ascends from a depth approximately �660km Ca-perovskite became unstable and react with Mg-perovskite, ferripericlase �to produce majorite, ringwoodite,and under further pressure decrease, wadsleite. This process is accompanied by partial transition of K into majorite, since the K distribution coefficient in Ca-perovskite is 26 times higher as compared with that in majorite (Corgne and Wood,2004). The remaining K likely remains beyond crystalline lattices of minerals in this mantle zone. Taking into considerationvalues of the K distribution coefficient in Caperovskiteand majorite, it can be confidently stated that the thermodynamic activity of K2O in the system increases by more than an order of magnitude with thetransition of the Mg-perovskite�Ca-perovskite�ferripericlase association into the majorite�ringwoodite paragenesis. This results in generation of conditionsfavorable for transition of K into the melt or fluid at thelower�upper mantle boundary (approximately 660 km).The released fluids should migrate to the upper structural stages of the mantle and carry out metasomatic alterations of host rocks. This should, in turn, lead to a decrease in the solidus temperature of the mantle peridotite and formation of kimberlite melts. The occurrence of majorite garnets in kimberlites and microinclusions in diamonds, which contain high-K alkaline liquids, supports our model of the genesis of potassic mantle flows and kimberlites. Both these mechanismsare likely responsible for generation of kimberlites. The subsequent development of the deepest potassic alkaline rocks in the Earth?s history is most likely explained, first, by the formation of a rather cold thick mature lithosphere (a required condition for kimberlite generation) and, second, by subduction of the continental crust at later stages of the Earth?s evolution.

References

1.    ��garko L.N.(2005). Geology and Geophysic, 46,12, 1234-1245

2.    Corgne� A. and Wood B.,(2004) Earth Planet. Inter.48, 143

Distribution of alkaline rocks, kimberlites, and diamond potential of kimberlites in the Earth?s geological history. (a) Alkaline rocks;(b) kimberlites; (c) diamond potential (ratio of the numbers of diamond-free and diamond-bearing pipes).