超高压变质大理岩中的白云石分解结构：大陆地壳物质深循环的新证据

苏鲁超高压变质地体中产出的与柯石英榴辉岩共生的大理岩发生了不同程度的退变,根据退变程度差异识别出三类大理岩菱镁矿大理岩(弱退变)、滑石大理岩(中等退变)和透闪石大理岩(强烈退变).菱镁矿大理岩的稳定矿物组合是单斜辉石+白云石+方解石,菱镁矿仅仅在方解石中与方解石集合体镶嵌共存.单斜辉石发育出溶结构且局部形成由角闪石和钠长石组成的后成合晶.另外两类大理岩不含菱镁矿,但含滑石和/或透闪石.在菱镁矿大理岩中观察到白云石的分解反应(Mg,Ca)(CO3)2=MgCO3+CaCO3,说明这些大理岩是大陆地壳物质俯冲到地幔＞180 km(甚至超过210 km)后返回到地表的产物.所观察到的白云石分解反应表明,苏鲁地区大陆地壳物质在所谓的"地幔禁区"俯冲,俯冲的温度增加梯度可能为～4.2℃/km.大陆地壳物质以如此低的温度梯度俯冲意味着非常高的俯冲速度.如此深循环的大陆地壳物质同时也经历了非常快的折返过程.这是白云石分解结构这种标志超高压条件下进变质反应阶段的证据得到保存的重要原因.     

西准噶尔蛇绿混杂岩中的白云石大理岩和石榴角闪岩：早古生代残余洋壳深俯冲的证据

本文在描述达拉布特和克拉玛依蛇绿岩中四个典型剖面(达拉布特、萨尔托海、白碱滩和百口泉)的基础上,通过研究变白云石大理岩和石榴角闪岩的形成和演化过程,展示西准噶尔蛇绿混杂岩的复杂性。白碱滩白云石大理岩是尖晶石二辉橄榄岩变质反应的产物。变质反应导致单斜辉石转变为白云石+石英+磁铁矿,橄榄石和斜方辉石先转变为蛇纹石+磁铁矿,蛇纹石再转变为白云石+石英+磁铁矿。透辉石+CO₂=白云石+石英+磁铁矿以及蛇纹石+CaCO₃=白云石+石英 +磁铁矿+H₂O这两个变质反应基本同时发生,他们以及石英—柯石英相变关系所限定的P-T空间(660~670℃,26.5~27.5 kbar)代表白云石大理岩的形成温度和压力。白云石大理岩与尖晶石二辉橄榄岩在一个不大的区域共存,说明循环到地球深部的尖晶石二辉橄榄岩(即：白云石大理岩的原岩)折返到地壳浅部后又与蛇绿岩中未俯冲的尖晶石二辉橄榄岩混杂在一起。因此,克拉玛依蛇绿混杂岩代表古俯冲带的位置。变辉长岩和尖晶石二辉橄榄岩中的单斜辉石均发育出溶结构(出溶尖晶石和斜方辉石)。这些出溶结构是蛇绿岩快速上升就位时由于温度和压力突然降低辉石发生分解反应的产物。因此,西准噶尔蛇绿混杂岩中的岩石组合记录着蛇绿岩形成时期、以及之后部分岩块通过俯冲带循环到地幔深处(最大深度~70km)并折返到地壳浅部的全过程。西准噶尔蛇绿混杂岩带是一个多时期、多阶段和多成因岩石的混杂体。     

康滇地轴中段西缘“黎溪式”铜矿床的岩相控制特征及成因

“黎溪式”铜矿床赋存在康滇地轴中段西缘的前震旦系会理群通安组中的白云石大理岩中。矿床的岩相控制特征十分显著,石英白云石大理岩为本成矿带的主要控(储)矿岩石,白云岩或白云石大理岩的含铜量占康滇地轴主要成矿区铜总量的46.7％。 长期以来,对“黎溪式”铜矿的成因认识①与中基性岩浆有关的中温热液矿床,构造富集成矿;②同生沉积变质矿床,地层控矿。笔者认为两种成因的论据不够充分并与客观地质现象及室内分析鉴定资料大都不相吻合。     

X射线粉晶衍射仪在大理岩鉴定与分类中的应用

大理岩主要有方解石大理岩、白云石大理岩和菱镁矿大理岩三种。以往大理岩是依据偏光显微镜下观察岩石结构构造及矿物成分进行分类定名,由于方解石、白云石、菱镁矿都属于三方晶系,具有闪突起、高级白干涉色、一轴晶负光性和菱形解理等相同晶体光学特征,偏光显微镜下区分十分困难。为了准确鉴定大理岩中碳酸盐矿物种类及其相对含量,本文利用岩石薄片偏光显微镜和X射线粉晶衍射技术对32件大理岩岩石样品进行分析测试。岩石薄片鉴定结果表明:大理岩造岩矿物主要有方解石、白云石、菱镁矿、石英、斜长石、白云母、黑云母、绿泥石、黏土和金属矿物。根据岩石结构构造及矿物组分特征,可把32件大理岩样品划分为方解石大理岩、长英质方解石大理岩、石英绿泥白云石大理岩、白云石大理岩、云英质白云石大理岩和菱镁矿大理岩等15个类型。X射线粉晶衍射分析表明:大理岩造岩矿物主要有方解石、白云石、菱镁矿、石英、斜长石、钾长石、云母、绿泥石、滑石和蒙脱石。综合分析认为:岩石薄片偏光显微镜鉴定技术很难区分方解石、白云石和菱镁矿等碳酸盐矿物,以及细小的石英、钾长石和斜长石、滑石和白云母等鳞片状硅酸盐矿物;X射线粉晶衍射分析技术不仅能准确检测出大理岩中方解石、白云石和菱镁矿等碳酸盐矿物种类及相对含量(方解石、白云石和菱镁矿的X射线衍射主峰有明显差异,d值分别为0.303 nm、0.288 nm和0.274 nm),而且能够有效鉴别岩石中粉砂级斜长石、钾长石与石英(三种矿物的X射线衍射主峰d值分别为0.319 nm、0.324 nm、0.334 nm);且能区分蒙脱石、绿泥石、云母和滑石等层状硅酸盐矿物(四种硅酸盐矿物的X射线衍射主峰d值分别为1.400 nm、0.705 nm、0.989 nm、0.938 nm)。综合岩石薄片偏光显微镜鉴定和X射线粉晶衍射分析结果,最终确定32件大理岩样品划分为22个岩石类型。研究认为:仅根据岩石薄片偏光显微镜鉴定或X射线粉晶衍射技术其中一种方法不能准确鉴定大理岩岩石,应将大理岩岩石野外观察、岩石薄片鉴定和X射线粉晶衍射技术结合起来,才能准确确定大理岩岩石类型。     

麻尔峪滑石矿床地质特征及成矿条件分析

麻尔峪滑石矿为优质中型滑石矿床,矿床位于英落-草河口巨型复向斜的北翼,矿区出露地层,主要为古元古界辽河群大石桥组三段中部地层。岩性以菱镁矿大理岩和白云石大理岩为主。矿体赋存于滑石化硅质菱镁矿大理岩层中,主矿体呈似层状,矿体中滑石平均含量50.04%~69.47%,矿石矿物成份为滑石,脉石矿物以菱镁矿为主,次为石英,少量为白云石、炭质等,矿床成因:与热卤水有关,产于石英(硅质)菱镁矿大理岩中的,中深中温高盐度热液交代矿床。     

高台沟硼矿地质地球化学及成因分析

高台沟硼矿位于吉南集安地区,含硼岩系普遍经受中-高级区域变质作用,区域上含矿镁质岩石类型划分为镁橄榄岩大理岩混合型和大理岩型两种矿化类型,高台沟硼矿属于镁橄榄岩大理岩混合型硼矿。含矿层岩石为灰绿色和黄绿色蛇纹岩,顶部岩石为金云母、透辉、滑石岩或金云透辉大理岩,向下为金云蛇纹岩或金云白云石大理岩,与蛇纹岩成渐变关系。蛇纹岩原岩为菱镁矿大理岩和镁橄榄岩,蛇纹石化镁橄榄岩中以产出硼镁铁矿为主,蛇纹石化大理岩中主要产出硼镁石。矿石化学成分反映,B_2O_3品位变化与MgO含量正相关,高品位硼矿石MgO含量均在40%以上。硼矿石稀土总量较低,小于22.03×10~(-6),轻重稀土略有分异,不同的负铕异常,明显的铈正异常。矿石中除B外,F也明显富集,其次是Cl、Rb、Sn、Th、U高于地幔岩石,而Ti、V、Cr、Co、Ni、Ga、Ba等则亏损,而硼镁铁矿的Co、Sn、U热液元素明显高于硼镁石矿石。矿床成因属于变质热液交代富镁质岩石形成的矿床,硼酸热液交代富镁岩石及磁铁矿形成硼镁石和硼镁铁矿,也可以是硼酸热液与铁镁溶液混合形成硼镁石和硼镁铁矿。     

辽东南地区菱镁矿矿床成因研究

辽东南地区是我国主要盛产菱镁矿产品基地之一,菱镁矿主要分布在辽宁省海城至大石桥一带。通过地质背景分析,研究菱镁矿的矿区、矿体地质特征和矿石质量特征,认为辽东南地区菱镁矿应属浅海相化学沉积碳酸盐岩建造,菱镁矿层的形成受特定古沉积环境控制,经区域变质重结晶作用或热力变质作用再次重结晶形成菱镁矿层。菱镁矿的形成是原生沉积与变质和变形作用的综合产物,矿床成因类型应属于沉积变质矿床。     

大别山北部超高压变质大理岩及其地质意义

岩石学研究表明 ,大别山北部镁铁 超镁铁质岩带中白云质大理岩至少经历过三期变质阶段 :(1)榴辉岩相峰期变质阶段 ,矿物组合主要为方解石 +白云石 +金红石 +镁橄榄石 +钛 斜硅镁石 +富镁的钛铁矿±文石±石榴子石 ;(2 )麻粒岩相退变质阶段 ,矿物组合主要为方解石 +白云石 +金云母 +镁橄榄石 +透辉石 +钛铁矿 +尖晶石±斜方辉石等 ;(3)角闪岩相退变质阶段 ,主要矿物组合为方解石 +白云石 +磷灰石 +磁铁矿+榍石等。它的峰期变质矿物组合 ,类似于苏 鲁超高压大理岩 ,形成压力至少大于 2 .5GPa。这进一步证明 ,大别山北部大多数高级变质岩 (包括大理岩等 )都曾经过超高压变质作用 ,应属于印支期扬子俯冲陆壳的一部分。     

中国辽东地区超大型菱镁矿矿床的地球化学特征和成因模式

我国辽东地区早元古代大石桥组镁质碳酸盐-泥质岩建造中赋存有多个超大型菱镁矿矿床。在这些矿床中,菱铁矿矿体均只限定在大石桥组三段岩层中。该层岩石主要由白云质大理岩、菱镁质大理岩、菱镁矿和少量泥质板岩薄层组成。赋矿层位之下地层为大石桥组二段的云母片岩;其下为大石桥组一段的白云质大理岩与云母片岩夹层。在大石桥组一段中未见菱铁矿体产出。研究表明,菱铁矿的δ18O值为5.2‰~13.8‰,低于围岩大理岩的δ18O值(11.2‰~22.8‰)。但两音的δ13C值大多接近零值,其中菱镁矿δ13C值变化为-1.4‰~1.2‰,大理岩δ13C值变化为-4.5‰~4 4‰。在菱镁矿层位中发现有石膏成层和脉状产出,其δ34S值为23.9‰~26.5‰,显示海相蒸发沉积特征。菱镁矿的稀土元素分析表明存在三种不同页岩标准化配分模式。类型Ⅰ显示中稀土富集特征,类型Ⅲ显示重稀土富集和正铕异常特征,它们可能反映了不同时期成矿热液的特征。而类型Ⅱ显示与围岩大理岩相同的平坦型,反映继承了原岩沉积碳酸盐岩的特征。本文认为,辽东地区的镁质碳酸盐岩(镁方解石和白云石)可能是从蒸发的泻湖盆地中沉积的,而菱镁矿石则主要是沉积后富镁卤水下渗交代原岩碳酸盐岩形成的。由于大石桥组二段云母片岩渗透率低隔水性强,因此菱铁矿的矿化交代作用只发     

斯洛伐克西喀尔巴阡山脉Gemerská Poloma滑石-菱镁矿矿床中镁的交代作用

Gemerská Poloma矿床是个重要的滑石矿床(储量20万吨),位于西喀尔巴阡山脉Germeric地区。部分滑石化的镁质碳酸盐体赋存在早古生代火山沉积杂岩体中(黑色片岩,变质泥岩),在Variscan变质作用(M1)过程中受到了绿泥石-黑云母带区域变质相的改造。这种原岩是石灰岩的矿体由白色-灰白或者灰色-黑色的菱镁矿与白云石1组成,被次生的白云石2和滑石脉切割。本次研究考察了两次变质事件(M1和M2)的几个连续的矿物组合,最早的组合包括铁白云石,镁菱铁矿与菱铁矿,(并与黑电气石,铁绿泥石,磷灰石,与伊利石-白云母伴生),它们以微小残留物形式产出在菱镁矿和白云石1中,其形成可能早于M1变质作用高峰期。M1变质事件的高峰期以富铁金云母,镁绿泥石1,镁电气石(黑电气石的边缘)和石英的组合为代表。在M1退变质作用过程中,发生了镁交代作用,开始是白云石1结晶,接下来形成菱镁矿,最后是以铁菱镁矿沿裂隙的形成而终。根据碳酸盐地质测温原理,M1变质事件的高峰期温度为460~490℃,变质矿物组合特征也支持这一测温结果。滑石,白云石2,与镁绿泥石2沿着镁碳酸盐岩石裂隙的发育,主要受到M2变质事件的影响,这个变质事件与较年青的Alpine造山事件有关。 菱镁矿流体包裹体的研究表明,成矿流体具有复杂的组成,可能以MgCl2组分为主,主要来     

Composition and geodynamic nature of the protoliths of diamondiferous rocks from the Kumdy-Kol deposit of the Kokchetav metamorphic belt, northern Kazakhstan

The distribution of rare earth elements was analyzed in the Early Cambrian diamondiferous calcsilicate rocks and gneisses, calciphyres, and marbles of the Kumdy-Kol deposit. These data were compared with the lithogeochemical characteristics of the sedimentary assemblages of weakly metamorphosed Late Precambrian graphite-bearing sedimentary rocks of the Kokchetav metamorphic belt. The obtained results allowed us to suppose that the protoliths of the Kumdy-Kol rocks were compositionally similar to the Late Precambrian graphite-bearing terrigenous-carbonate and sand-shale sequences of the continental shelf of the Kokchetav microcontinent, some of which were transformed in a subduction zone into diamondiferous rocks.     

蛇绿岩型金刚石和铬铁矿深部成因

地球上的原生金刚石主要有3种产出类型,分别来自大陆克拉通下的深部地幔金伯利岩型金刚石、板块边界深俯冲变质岩中超高压变质型金刚石,和陨石坑中的陨石撞击型金刚石。在全球5个造山带的10处蛇绿岩的地幔橄榄岩或铬铁矿中均发现金刚石和其他超高压矿物的基础上,我们提出地球上一种新的天然金刚石产出类型,命名为蛇绿岩型金刚石。认为蛇绿岩型金刚石普遍存在于大洋岩石圈的地幔橄榄岩中,并提出蛇绿岩型金刚石和铬铁矿的深部成因模式。认为早期俯冲的地壳物质到达地幔过渡带(410~660 km深度)后被肢解,加入到周围的强还原流体和熔体中,当熔融物质向上运移到地幔过渡带顶部,铬铁矿和周围的地幔岩石以及流体中的金刚石等深部矿物一并结晶,之后,携带金刚石的铬铁矿和地幔岩石被上涌的地幔柱带至浅部,经历了洋盆的拉张和俯冲阶段,最终在板块边缘就位。     

The Kokchetav Massif,Kazakhstan: “Type locality” of diamond-bearing UHP metamorphic rocks

After the discovery of metamorphic coesite in crustal rocks from the Western Alps (Italy) and the Western gneiss region (Norway) in the mid 1980s of the last century, metamorphic diamond was observed only a few years later “in situ” in the Kokchetav Massif (Kazakhstan). Findings of such coesite- and diamond-bearing ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHP) rocks with protoliths formed or embedded in crustal levels and subsequently experienced PT-conditions within or even higher than the coesite stability field have dramatically changed our geodynamic view of orogenetic processes. These occurrences provide evidence that crustal rocks were subducted into mantle depths and exhumed to the surface. Recent studies even suggest continental subduction to depths exceeding 300 km. These rocks have been extensively studied and many new and important observations have been made. Thus far, more than 350 papers have been published on various aspects of Kokchetav UHP rocks.The Kokchetav Massif of northern Kazakhstan is part of one of the largest suture zones in Central Asia and contains slices of HP and UHP metamorphic rocks. Classical UHP rocks mainly occur in the Kumdy Kol, Barchi Kol and Kulet areas, and include a large variety of lithologies such as calcsilicate rocks, eclogite, gneisses, schists, marbles of various compositions, garnet–pyroxene–quartz rocks, and garnet peridotite. Most of them contain microdiamonds; some of which reach a grain size of 200 μm. Most diamond grains show cuboid shapes but in rare cases, diamonds within clinozoisite gneiss from Barchi Kol occur as octahhedral form. Microdiamonds contain highly potassic fluid inclusions, as well as solid inclusions like carbonates, silicates and metal sulfides, which favour the idea of diamond formation from a C–O–H bearing fluid. Nitrogen isotope data and negative δ¹³C values of Kokchetav diamonds indicate a metasedimentary origin.PT-estimates of Kokchetav UHP rocks yield peak metamorphic conditions of at least 43 kbar at temperatures of about 950–1000 °C. Some zircon separates show inherited Proterozoic cores and 537–530 Ma UHP metamorphic mantle zones. Several Ar–Ar-ages on micas scatter around 529–528 and 521–517 Ma and reflect different stages of the exhumation history. Migmatization occurred during exhumation at about 526–520 Ma.Isotopic studies on calcsilicate rocks confirm a metasedimentary origin: δ¹⁸O values of garnet and clinopyroxene of a layered calcsilicate rock rule out the possibility having a primitive mantle protolith. Similar studies on eclogites indicate their basaltic protolith having experienced water–rock interaction prior to UHP metamorphism.A number of unique mineralogical findings have been made on Kokchetav UHP rocks. K-feldspar exsolutions in clinopyroxene demonstrate that potassium can be incorporated into the cpx-structure under upper mantle pressures. Other significant observations are coesite exsolutions in titanite, quartz-rods in cpx, the discovery of K-tourmaline as well as new minerals like kokchetavite, a hexagonal polymorph of K-feldspar and kumdykolite, an orthorhombic polymorph of albite.The Kokchetav UHP rocks represent a unique and challenging stomping ground for geoscientists of various disciplines. From crystallography, petrology and geochemistry to geophysics and geodynamics/geotectonics – it concerns all who are interested in the diverse metamorphic processes under upper mantle conditions.     

Exhumation of high-pressure rocks of the Kokchetav massif: facts and models

The exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic units from depths more than 100-120 km is one of the most intriguing questions in modern petrology and geodynamics. We use the diamondiferous Kumdy-Kol domain in the Kokchetav Massif to show that exhumation models should take into consideration initially high uplift velocities (from 20 down to 6 cm/year) and the absence of the deformation of UHP assemblages. The high rate of exhumation are indicated by ion microprobe (SHRIMP) dating of zircons from diamondiferous rocks and supported by the low degree of nitrogen aggregation in metamorphic diamonds.Diamondiferous rocks in the Kumdy-Kol domain occur as steeply dipping (60°-80°) thin slices (few hundred metres) within granite-gneiss. Using geological, petrological and isotopic-geochemical data, we show that partial melting of diamondiferous metamorphic rocks occurred; a very important factor which has not been taken into account in previous models.Deformation of diamondiferous rocks at Kumdy-Kol is insignificant; diamond inclusions in garnet are often intergrown with mica crystals carrying no traces of deformation. All these facts could be explained by partial melting of metapelites and granitic rocks in the Kumdy-Kol domain. The presence of melt is responsible for an essential reduction of viscosity and a density difference (Δρ) between crustal rocks and mantle material and reduced friction between the upwelling crustal block, the subducting and overriding plates. Besides Δρ, the exhumation rate seems to depend on internal pressure in the subducting continental crustal block which can be regarded as a viscous layer between subducting continental lithosphere and surrounding mantle.We construct different models for the three stages of exhumation: a model similar to “corner flow” for the first superfast exhumation stage, an intermediate stage of extension (most important from structural point of view) and a very low rate of exhumation in final diapir+erosional uplift.     

Concepts for diamond exploration in “on/off craton” areas—British Columbia, Canada

The tectonic setting of British Columbia (BC) differs from classic diamond-bearing intracratonic regions such as the Northwest Territories and South Africa. Nevertheless, several diamond occurrences have been reported in BC. It is also known that parts of the province are underlain by Proterozoic and possibly Archean basement. Because the continents of today are composites of fragments of ancient continents, it is possible that some of the regions underlain by old crystalline basement in eastern British Columbia were associated with a deep crustal keel. The keel may have predated the break-up of the early Neoproterozoic supercontinent called Rodinia and was preserved possibly until the Triassic. Some of these old continental fragments may have been displaced relative to their position of origin and dissociated from their keel, or the keel may have since been destroyed. Such fragments represent favourable exploration grounds in terms of the “Diamondiferous Mantle Root” model (DMR model) if they were intersected by kimberlites or lamproites prior to displacement or destruction of their underlying deep keel. Therefore, extrapolation of fragments of the diamond-bearing Precambrian basement from the Northwest Territories or Alberta to BC provides a sufficient reason for initiating reconnaissance indicator mineral surveys. The “Eclogite Subduction Zone” model (ES model) predicts formation of diamonds at lower pressure (i.e., depth) than required by the DMR model in convergent tectonic settings. Although not proven, this model is supported by thermal modeling of cold subduction zones and recent discoveries of diamonds in areas characterized by convergent tectonic settings. If the ES model is correct, then the parts of BC with a geological history similar to today's “cold” subduction zones, such as Honshu (Japan), or to continental collision zones, such as Kokchetav massif (Kazakhstan) and the Dabie–Sulu Terrane (east central China), may be diamondiferous. The terranes where geological evidences suggest an ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic event followed by rapid tectonic exhumation (which could have prevented complete resorption of diamonds on their journey to the surface) are worth investigating. If UHP rocks were intercepted at depth by syn- or post-subduction diamond elevators, such as kimberlites, lamproites, lamprophyres, nephelinites or other alkali volcanic rocks of deep-seated origin, the diamond potential of the area would be even higher.     

Modification of mineral inclusions in garnet under high-pressure conditions: experimental simulation and application to the carbonate-silicate rocks of Kokchetav massif

Samples of poikoblastic garnets from the Escambray (Cuba), Maksyutov (Russia), and Sambagawa (Japan) eclogite complexes were heated to 700–1100 ºC at 3 to 4 GPa (30–40 kbar). Epidote, amphibole, and chlorite inclusions in the garnets underwent dehydration melting over the entire experimental PT range, which is typical of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic complexes. In the presence of aqueous fluids, carbonate minerals in the inclusions began to melt at 800 ºC and 3 GPa. Melting gave rise to new garnet, with the composition controlled by the chemistry of the primary inclusions and by PT run conditions. Garnet either grew directly from the melt or formed by replacement of host garnet walls leaving residual melt at the substitution front in the latter case. Partial melting of inclusions decreased the mechanical strength of the garnet host and led to local shearing. The experimental results were used to interpret observed features in two samples of a diamond-bearing and a diamond-free carbonate-silicate rocks from the Kumdy-Kol deposit in the Kokchetav Massif. Multiphase inclusions in both samples contain newly formed garnet with morphologies and compositions consistent with those produced experimentally under the given PT conditions. Minerals in the inclusions are compositionally similar to those in matrix, thus suggesting that melting may have occurred on a large scale.     

New FTIR spectroscopy data on the composition of the medium of diamond crystallization in metamorphic rocks of the Kokchetav Massif

A representative sample of microdiamonds in calc-silicate and garnet-pyroxene-quartz rocks and gneisses from the cross section of an adit driven at the Kumdy-Kol’ deposit (Northern Kazakhstan) has been analyzed. Microdiamonds from these rocks were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for the first time. It has been established that nitrogen impurity content (300–3000 ppm) and nitrogen aggregation degree (14–75%) vary widely and do not correlate with each other. The variation is probably due to the uneven distribution of nitrogen in crystals and to their specific internal structures.The results of the study show that in most diamondiferous rocks, diamonds crystallized from a fluid/melt of composition varying between aqueous-carbonate and aqueous-silicate end-members. Spectroscopy studies partly disagree with literature data on individual nanoinclusions in diamonds. The cause of this discrepancy may be the evolution of the fluid/melt during diamond crystallization.     

Oxygen, carbon, and strontium isotope geochemistry of diamond-bearing carbonate rocks from Kumdy-Kol, Kokchetav Massif, Kazakhstan

Diamond-bearing carbonate rocks from Kumdy-Kol, Kokchetav massif, Kazakhstan, were strongly altered by fluids flowing through fractures and infiltrating along grain boundaries during exhumation. Alteration includes retrogradation of high-grade silicate assemblages by hydrous minerals, replacement of diamond by graphite and of dolomite by calcite. Diamond-bearing carbonate rocks are among the most intensely altered isotopically with δ¹⁸O_VSMOW values as low as +9‰, δ¹³C_VPDB=−9‰, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr as high as 0.8050. Evidence of isotopic equilibration between coexisting dolomite and high-Mg calcite during ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism (UHPM) is preserved only rarely in samples isolated from infiltrating fluids by distance from fractures. Isotopic heterogeneity and isotopic disequilibrium are widespread on a hand-specimen scale. Because of this lack of homogeneity, bulk analyses cannot provide definitive measurements of ¹³C/¹²C fractionation between coexisting diamond and carbonate. Our study adequately documents alteration on a scale commensurate with observed vein structures. But, testing the hypothesis of metamorphic origin of microdiamonds has not fully succeeded because our analytical spatial resolution, limited to 0.5 mm, is not small enough to measure individual dolomite inclusions or individual diamond crystals.     

Microdiamonds — Frontier of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism: A review

This is a comprehensive review paper devoted to microdiamonds from ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) terranes incorporated in orogenic belts formed at convergent plate boundaries in Paleozoic-Mesozoic-Alpine time. When in 1980 the first small diamonds were discovered within “amphibolite-granulate facies” metamorphic rocks, it came as a great surprise that buoyant continental crust could be subducted to depths of hundreds of kilometers and then subsequently exhumed. Since then, much progress has been made in understanding the mechanism of these diamonds' formation, and the number of new diamond-bearing UHPM terranes was significantly increased, especially within European orogenes. Moreover, new variations in tectonic settings in which UHP rocks can be formed and exhumed came to the attention of geologists simply due to the finding of diamonds in places previously “forbidden” for their formation—e.g., oceanic islands, ophiolites, and forearc environments. Over the past decade, the rapidly moving technological advancement has made it possible to examine microdiamonds in detail and to learn that part of them has a polycrystalline nature; that they contain nanometric, multiphase inclusions of crystalline and fluid phases; and that they keep a “crustal” signature of carbon isotopes. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, focused-ion-beam techniques, synchrotron infrared spectroscopy, micro X-ray diffraction, and nano-secondary ion mass spectrometry studies of these diamonds provide evidence that they keep traces of fluid originated from both crustal and mantle reservoirs, and that they probably interacted with deep mantle plumes. Hypotheses proposed for diamond formation in subduction zones founded on both analytical and experimental studies are discussed. The paper also emphasizes that the discovery of these microdiamonds (as well as coesite) triggered a major revision in the understanding of deep subduction processes, leading to a clear realization of how continental materials can be recycled into the Earth's mantle and geochemically rejuvenate it.     

Nano-and micron-sized diamond genesis in nature: An overview

There are four main types of natural diamonds and related formation processes. The first type comprises the interstellar nanodiamond particles. The second group includes crustal nano-and micron-scale diamonds associated with coals, sediments and metamorphic rocks. The third one includes nanodiamonds and microndiamonds associated with secondary alteration and replacing of mafic and ultramafic rocks.The fourth one includes macro-, micron-and nano-sized mantle diamonds which are associated with kimberlites, mantle peridotites and eclogites. Each diamond type has its specific characteristics. Nanosized diamond particles of lowest nanometers in size crystallize from abiotic organic matter at lower pressures and temperatures in space during the stages of protoplanetary disk formation. Nano-sized diamonds are formed from organic matter at P-T exceeding conditions of catagenesis stage of lithogenesis. Micron-sized diamonds are formed from fluids at P-T exceeding supercritical water stability.Macrosized diamonds are formed from metal-carbon and silicate-carbonate melts and fluids at P-T exceeding 1150℃ and 4.5 GPa. Nitrogen and hydrocarbons play an important role in diamond formation.Their role in the formation processes increases from macro-sized to nano-sized diamond particles.Introduction of nitrogen atoms into the diamond structure leads to the stabilization of micron-and nanosized diamonds in the field of graphite stability.