Mineralogy of primary carbonate-bearing hypabyssal kimberlite, Lac de Gras, Slave Province, Northwest Territories, Canada

A suite of fresh, Late Cretaceous to Eocene hypabyssal kimberlites from the Lac de Gras field were studied in order to understand better carbonate, silicate and oxide paragenesis. The samples have excellent preservation of textures and primary mineralogy and are archetypal or Group 1 kimberlite. Five kimberlite localities are identified as calcite-bearing based on the presence of high Sr–Ba calcite as phenocrysts, microphenocrysts and in segregations. Three kimberlite localities are identified as dolomite-bearing based on the presence of mixed calcite–dolomite segregations containing oscillatory and banded textures of calcite–dolomite solid solution and dolomite (±magnesite). Sr–Ba calcite are characterized by high X_Ca (>0.95) and are enriched in Sr (4900–11,100 ppm) and Ba (3200–14,200 ppm). The calcite–dolomite and dolomite–magnesite solid solution compositions span the X_Ca range from 0.42 to 0.95, and typically have Sr and Ba contents in the range of 1000–4000 ppm. The carbonate, silicate and oxide mineral compositions suggest that the origin of the calcite-bearing versus dolomite-bearing kimberlites studied is related to subtle differences in parent magma composition, in particular, the CO₂/H₂O ratio. Formation of the carbonates reflects the latter part of a protracted magmatic crystallization sequence, in which Sr–Ba calcite precipitates from an evolved kimberlite melt. Subsequently, calcite–dolomite solid solution and dolomite is precipitated from localized, Mg-rich carbonate fluids at relatively high temperatures (higher than serpentine stability).