Petrochemical characteristics of kimberlites and identification of their diamond-bearing potentiality

There has been found a distinct directional trend of kimberlites differing in ore-bearing potentiality with changing chemical composition. The contents of MgO, NiO and Cr₂O₃ decrease gradualy while Na₂O, K₂O, Al₂O₃ and P₂O₅ increase considerably in the order of diamond-rich—diamond-poor—diamond-barren kimberlites. In general Fe₂O₃, FeO and TiO₂ also show an increasing tendency. Therefore, the variations in chemical composition may be used as petrochemical indexes for calculating the ore-bearing potentiality of kimberlites. Based on discriminant analysis, it is possible to make a distinction between diamond-bearing and diamond-barren, or between diamond-rich and diamond-poor kimberlites.     

Study of Proterozoic (Jatulian) facies in Central Karelia

Jatulian (middle Proterozoic) deposits in Karelia form isolated synclinoria, trending northwest and surrounded by blocks of granitic rocks and schists. Individual zones are 70-250 km long by 5-130 km wide. They have been traced 600 km from south to north. Jatulian deposits consist of metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Sedimentary rocks in central Karelia consist of polymictic conglomerates, sericitic sandstones and carbonate-bearing sandstones. Facies change gradually away from the central parts of Jatulian troughs from lacustrine to shallow-water shore facies and then to those of streams and mountain slopes. The intervals thin in the same basins. The lateral facies sequence is repeated vertically. Variations in thickness and facies were determined by contemporaneous Jatulian tectonic activity. There resulted a system of relatively narrow zones with different rates of subsidence, sedimentation and uplift.—C. G. Tillman.     

Results of a study of Proterozoic weathering crusts in Karelia

Resemblances between Precambrian and post-Precambrian weathered profiles over granites are taken as evidence of very little change in physicochemical conditions of regional weathering in Proterozoic-Cenozoic time. Presence of substantial quantities of oxygen in the Middle Proterozoic atmosphere may account for the general increase in ferric (and corresponding decrease in ferrous) iron, from the bottom up, in the profiles examined here. -- V.P. Sokoloff     

Graphite- and diamond-bearing eclogite xenoliths from the Bellsbank kimberlites,Northern Cape,South Africa

 One diamond-bearing and eight graphite-bearing eclogite xenoliths are described from the Bellsbank kimberlites, Cape Province, South Africa. Graphite mostly occurs as discrete grains which are commonly in the form of tabular prisms. Diamond is octahedral. Both Group I and Group II eclogite varieties are represented by the graphite-bearing specimens, while the single diamond-bearing eclogite is of the Group I variety. The carbon isotopic composition of the graphite varies from δ¹³C=−7‰ to δ¹³C=−2.8‰. This is within the range of carbon isotopic compositions for inclusion-free diamonds in kimberlite from this locality, suggesting that the carbon for the eclogites as well as some of the kimberlite diamonds are derived from the same source. The present day Nd isotopic compositions of clinopyroxene from three graphite-bearing xenoliths are slightly higher than the bulk earth estimate. Sr isotopic compositions of the clinopyroxene in these xenoliths vary from ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.703 to ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.706. This could be due to derivation of the xenoliths from a protolith with variable ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic composition or could be the result of mixing between a low-Sr, high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr component and a high Sr, low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr component. Received: 1 June 1994/Accepted: 6 March 1995     

Petrology and Ni-Cu-Cr-PGE Mineralization of the Largest Mafic Pluton in Europe: The Early Proterozoic Burakovsky Layered Intrusion,Karelia, Russia

The largest mafic pluton in Europe (area = 630 km², thickness = 5 to 7 km) is the early Proterozoic (2445 ± 4 Ma; Pb-Pb) Burakovsky Layered Intrusion (BLI). It is located in the southern part of Russian Karelia, in the SE part of the Baltic Shield, within an Archean granite-greenstone terrain. The BLI is overlain by Quaternary deposits, and our present understanding of its character, composition, and internal structure is based on geophysical surveys and the nature of the rocks at depth, as sampled by diamond drill core. In order to better understand the petrogenesis of the BLI, we present geologic, petrographic, mineral-chemical, and whole-rock chemical analyses from throughout the stratigraphic sequence.

The BLI is a lopolith-like body and is divided into two major units: the Layered Series (LS), which exhibits layering that is discordant to the contact, and the Border Group (BG), with layering that conforms to the contact surface. The LS constitutes most of the BLI and consists of, from bottom to top: the ultramafic zone (UZ), 3 to 3.5 km thick, with a lower dunite (01 ± Chr) and an upper peridotite subzone (01 ± Chr, 01 + Opx ± Chr, and rare Chr cumulates); the pyroxenite zone (PZ) (Opx ± Chr ± 01, Opx + Cpx ± Chr ± 01), 0.2 km thick; the gabbronorite zone (GZ), 1.1 km thick and composed of a lower banded subzone (Opx, Opx + Cpx ± Chr, Opx + Pig ± Cpx cumulates) and an upper massive subzone (Opx + Cpx + Pig and Pig cumulates); the pigeonite-gabbronorite zone (PGZ) (Pig + inverted Pig, Pig-Aug + Pig cumulates), 1.2 km in thickness; and the magnetite-gabbrodiorite zone (MGZ) (Ti-Mt + Pig + Pig + Cpx), 0.8 km thick.

A quite unusual feature of the BLI is an irregular conformable body of clinopyroxenite, in the lower part of the PZ, which consists of inverted Pig-Aug with a non-cumulate texture. The pyroxenites contain occasional relict cumulate structures. The pyroxenes contain small oval-shaped quartz-carbonate inclusions. We speculate that the clinopyroxenites may be the result of subsolidus metasomatism by fluids likely generated within the intrusion.

Economic mineralization is represented by chromite, Ti-V-Mt, and platinum-group minerals (PGMs). Chromite mineralization is well developed in the upper peridotite subzone of the UZ. The largest chromite seam—the main chromite horizon (MCH)—is 3 to 4 m thick and is situated at the top of the UZ, in contact with the PZ. Potential reserves of Ni, in both sulfides and olivine, are present in the UZ. Syngenetic platinum-group-element (PGE) mineralization is observed in chromitite layers in the layered subzone of the GZ and in the rocks of the Border Group. In the MCH, Os, Ir, and Rh occur as small inclusions of sulfides in chromite; these inclusions have compositions that would place them within the aurite-erlichmanite and isoferroplatinum-awaruite series. Low-sulfur PGE mineralization (mainly Pd and Pt) occurs in the banded subzone of the GZ and in sulfide-bearing rocks of the BG. PGMs consist of Pd- and Pt-bearing tellurides and bismuthides: moncheite, merenskyite, froodite, sobolevskite, and kotulskite. Epigenetic PGE mineralization also occurs in tectonic breccias.

The BLI is similar in many respects to other early Proterozoic layered mafic intrusions (i.e., the Bush veld, Monchetundra, and Koilismaa intrusions), especially in terms of the general rock sequence and economic mineralization. The main differences are the very thick dunite cumulates (comprising half of the intrusion) and the relatively minor proportion of pyroxenerich and plagioclaserich cumulates. Another contrasting feature is the predominance of refractory PGE (Os, Ir, and Rh), over Pt and Pd, in the MCH. This observation leads to the interpretation that the MCH has a non-cumulate (deuteric hydrothermal?) origin.     

Sources and formation conditions of Early Proterozoic granitoids from the southwestern margin of the Siberian craton

Three stages of Early Proterozoic granitoid magmatism were distinguished in the southwestern margin of the Siberian craton: (1) syncollisional, including the formation of migmatites and granites in the border zone of the Tarak massif; (2) postorogenic, postcollisional, comprising numerous granitoid plutons of diverse composition; and (3) intraplate, corresponding to the development of potassic granitoids in the Podporog massif. Rocks of three petrological and geochemical types (S, I, and A) were found in the granitoid massifs. The S-type granites are characterized by the presence of aluminous minerals (garnet and cordierite), and their trace element distribution patterns and Nd isotopic parameters are similar to those of the country paragneisses and migmatites. Their formation was related to melting under varying H₂O activity of aluminous and garnet—biotite gneisses at P ≥ 5 kbar and T < 850°C with a variable degree of melt separation from the residual phases. The I-type tonalites and dioritoids show low relative iron content, high concentrations of CaO and Sr, fractionated REE distribution patterns with (La/Yb)_n = 11–42, and variable depletion of heavy REE. Their parental melts were derived at T ≥ 850°C and P > 10 and P < 10 kbar, respectively. According to isotopic data, their formation was related to melting of a Late Archean crustal (tonalite-diorite-gneiss) source with a contribution of juvenile material ranging from 25–55% (tonalites of the Podporog massif) to 50–70% (dioritoids of the Uda pluton). The most common A-type granitoids show high relative iron content; high concentration of high-field-strength elements, Th, and light and heavy REE; and a distinct negative Eu anomaly. Their primary melts were derived at low H₂O activity and T ≥ 950°C. The Nd isotopic composition of the granitoids suggests contributions to the magma formation processes from ancient (Early and Late Archean) crustal (tonalite-diorite-gneiss) sources and a juvenile mantle material. The contribution of the latter increases from 0–35% in the granites of the Podporog and Tarak massifs to 40–50% for the rocks of the Uda and Shumikha plutons. The main factors responsible for the diversity of petrological and geochemical types of granitoids in collisional environments are the existence of various fertile sources in the section of the thickened crust of the collisional orogen, variations in magma generation conditions $(\alpha _{H_2 O} , T, and P)$ during sequential stages of granite formation, and the varying fraction of juvenile mantle material in the source region of granitoid melts.     

碳同位素与早元古代地层对比

本文首次较详细地研究了早元古代碳酸盐地层的碳同位素组成，样品采自华北早元古代标准地层单元──山西五台地区滹沱群，结果表明碳同位素组成随地质时代有明显的变化，并与地层层位有很好的对应关系。作者认为，碳同位素对于早元古代碳酸盐地层的对比是很有用的。     

Caledonian formation of gold-bearing sulfide depositions in Early Proterozoic gabbroids in the northern Ladoga region

We have studied Pb isotopic systems of K-feldspar, pyrite, and pyrrhotine from gabbroids and ore of the Velimyaki Early Proterozoic massif in the northern Ladoga region in the southeastern part of the Fennoscandian Shield. The isochronous Pb–Pb age of sulfides has been determined as ～450 Ma, which corresponds to intersection of the regression line with the lead accumulation curve with μ = 10.4–10.8; the model Pb age of sulfides is close to isochronous under the condition that the composition of lead evolved from a geochemical reservoir with an age of 1.9 Ga. The isotopic parameters of the lead in sulfides and K-feldspar indicate their formation in upper crust conditions (μ = ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb > 10). From the obtained data, it follows that the isotopic composition of lead in K-feldspar corresponds to a Proterozoic age (1890 Ma) of magmatic crystallization of the rocks in the massif, and strongly radiogenic lead sulfides testify, with the greatest probability, to the later (Caledonian) formation of sulfide ores.     

Discovery of Early Proterozoic Carbon Isotope Shifts

The authors have detailedly and systematically studied the carbon isotopic composition of Early Proterozoic carbonate rocks. Samples which are all dolomicrite were taken from the Jianancun, Daguandong and Huaiyincun Formations of the Hutuo Group in Wutai County Shanxi Province, North China. A total of 209 samples were analysed for their carbon isotope compositions, and the mean sampling interval was 6.9 m. Carbon isotope analysis clearly shows δ13C shifts at the boundary between the Jian'ancun Formation and Daguandong Formation and near the boundary between the Daguandong Formation and Huaiyincun Formation. Like carbon isotope shifts at the Cretaceous-Tertiary, Permian-Triassic and Precambrian-Cambrian boundaries, the discovery of δ13C shifts in the Early Proterozoic has important significance in further studies on Early Proterozoic biotic evolution, regional and global stratigraphic correlation, and carbon geochemical cycles.     

Chrome-rich garnets from the kimberlites of yakutia and their parageneses

The chrome-rich magnesian garnets (6.6–18.9% Cr₂O₃) of kimberlitic concentrates and some peridotite xenoliths contain variable admixtures of CaO: from 0.69 to 26.0% (1.7–72% Ca-component). All the garnets both in respect of Ca and Cr-contents make up a continuous series.The variability in the Ca-content is caused by differences in paragenesis. Most of the Ca-poor pyropes are related to a paragenesis without clinopyroxene (mostly dunitic). Garnets rich in calcium are related to a paragenesis without entstatite. All the parageneses listed are of an ultramafic type, i.e. contain magnesian olivine. The solubility of knorringite—Mg₃Cr₂(Si₃O₁₂)—in kimberlitic garnets is possibly limited by pressure and does not exceed 50–60% mol.     

Petrology of the Early Paleoproterozoic Burakovsky complex,southern Karelia

The Early Paleoproterozoic Burakovsky complex contains Europe’s largest layered mafic-ultramafic pluton and giant Avdeevo gabbronorite dike. The pluton consists of two independent bodies of different age (the Aganozero and Shalozero-Burakovsky bodies), each having its own internal structure and contacting each other in their apical parts. Both bodies have a similar rock sequence including five differentiated zones (from bottom upward, based on the predominant cumulus assemblages): ultrabasic, pyroxenite, gabbronorite, pigeonite gabbronorite, and magnetite gabbronorite-diorite. Being generally similar to each other owing to a common differentiation trend of similar melts, these bodies differ notably in the character of their cumulus stratigraphy and, to a lesser extent, in mineral and geochemical composition. The pluton is distinguished by the presence of marker horizons—singular interlayers of high-temperature mafic cumulates emplaced in the sequence of lower-temperature gabbroid. Their origin is believed to have been associated with the influxes of fresh magma portions into the crystallizing magma chambers. Based on petrological, geochemical, and mineralogical data, the Aganozero and Shalozero-Burakovsky bodies, as well as additional intrusive phases, were derived from the compositionally similar but not identical melts of siliceous high-Mg (boninite like) series. The Avdeevo dike (2436 ± 46 Ma at ?_Nd(T) = ?1.5) extends along the southeastern contact of the Shalozero-Burakovsky body and was formed almost simultaneously with it. The dike is made up of pigeonite gabbronorites, which are almost identical to the rocks of the Pigeonite gabbronorite zone of the Burakovsky pluton in geochemistry and mineral composition. It was concluded that the Burakovsky Complex was a long-lived igneous center, whose origin was related to the activity of an Early Paleoproterozoic mantle superplume.     

Petrophysical properties of kimberlites from the Komsomolsky Pipe and their relationship to its composition,formation conditions,and diamond content

The paper discusses the petrophysical properties of kimberlites from the Komsomolsky Pipe and statistical analysis of their relationships with the data of petrographic and ore microscopic studies. Comparison of the obtained results with data of analogous studies in other Yakutian kimberlite pipes showed that these data can be applied for prognostic evaluation of kimberlite contents in kimberlite bodies of this region.     

Subduction geodynamics in Archean and formation of diamond-bearing lithospheric keels and early continental crust of cratons

The diamond-bearing mantle keels underlying Archean cratons are a unique phenomenon of Early Precambrian geology. The common stable assemblage of the Archean TTG early continental crust and underlying subcontinental lithospheric mantle clearly shows their coupled tectogenesis, which was not repeated in younger geological epochs. One of the least studied aspects of this phenomenon is concerned with the eclogitic xenoliths carried up by kimberlite pipes together with mantle-derived nodules. The eclogitic xenoliths reveal evidence for their subduction-related origin, but the Archean crustal counterparts of such xenoliths remained unknown for a long time, and the question of their crustal source and relationships to the formation of early continental crust remained open. The Archean crustal eclogites recently found in the Belomorian Belt of the Baltic Shield are compared in this paper with eclogitic xenoliths from kimberlites in the context of the formation of both Archean subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) and early continental crust. The crustal eclogites from the Belomorian Belt are identical in mineral and chemical compositions to the eclogite nodules (group B), including their diamond-bearing varieties. The eclogite protoliths are comparable in composition with the primary melts of the Meso- and Neoarchean oceanic crust, which was formed at a potential temperature of the upper mantle which exceeded its present-day temperature by 150–250 K. The reconstructed pathways of the Archean oceanic crust plunging in the upper mantle suggest that the Archean mantle was hotter than in the modern convergence settings. The proposed geodynamic model assumes coupled formation of the Archean diamond-bearing SCLM and growth of early continental crust as a phenomenon related to the specific geodynamics of that time controlled by a higher terrestrial heat flow.     

Composition and age of Sariolian volcanites of the Vermas formation in Northern Karelia

During this work, the composition of Sariolian volcanites of the Vermas formationin the Karelian region was studied and the U-Pb age of these rocks was first obtained (SHRIMP-II). In composition these volcanites are andesites and andesite-basalts, as well as, to a lesser extent, trachyandesites and trachyandesitobasalts of the calc-alkaline series. Due to porphyroblast crystallization, widely manifested in this region volcanites are enriched in TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O_3total, K₂O, Rb, Cs, Zr, Hf, Y, Nb, Cr, V, Th and REE (primarily La and Ce). Rocks of the Vermas formation formed in the Paleoproterozoic (2412 ± 17 Ma) and were transformed as a result of the Svecofennian metamorphism in the interval of 1970 ± 15 Ma. The source of the melt and inherited zircons with the age of 2630–2760 Ma can be crustal material with the ancient Sm-Nd model age (3–3.1 Ga).     

Ice-lobe formation and function during the deglaciation in Finland and adjacent Soviet Karelia

The mode and nature of ice-flow mechanism leading to ice-lobe formation during deglaciation is described. These mechanisms are deduced primarily from their geomorphological and stratigraphical effects: the arc-like formations fringing the ice lobes, certain patterns of landform elements, and in some cases the stratigraphical signs indicating ice-marginal readvance or lack of it. Several ice-lobe creation mechanisms are presented along with the associated landform patterns they produce. The theory encompassing the fan-like ice flows, the ice-lobe formation, and the arc formations fringing them is applied to the deglaciation in Soviet Karelia and adjacent Finland. Deglaciation proceeded here from the southeast to the northwest, and complex arc formations derived from the major ice lobes. The Finnish Lake District lobe, the North Karelian lobe, the Kuusamo lobe, and the other lobes in northeastern Finland were in general metachronously formed.     

Crystal-chemical peculiarities of globular layer silicates of the glauconite-illite composition (Upper Proterozoic, Northern Siberia)

The paper presents an overview of crystal-chemical peculiarities of the previously studied globular dioctahedral 2 : 1 layer silicates of the glauconite-illite compositions from the Upper Proterozoic sections in northern Siberia (Anabar and Olenek uplifts). Lithomineralogical peculiarities of the glauconite-bearing rocks are discussed. Geochronological data on some samples are given. Monomineral fractions of grains were studied with the modern chemical and physical methods (X-ray diffraction, oblique-texture electron diffraction (OTED), scanning electron microscopy, IR and Mossbauer spectroscopy, classical chemical and microprobe analyses, and others). Low-charge dioctahedral 2 : 1 layer silicates were classified with consideration of the IMA NC and AIPEA NC recommendations (Rieder et al., 1998; Guggenheim et al., 2006). This classification showed that the studied globular Al- and Fe-bearing varieties include a continuous isomorphic glauconite-illite series. Intermediate layer silicates beyond the IMA NC and AIPEA NC classification are assigned to Al-glauconites (Fe-illites). True illites should be supplemented with adjectives ??globular?? or ??platy,?? because green globules and the fine-dispersed Al-bearing clay minerals are traditionally recognized as ??glauconite?? and ??illite,?? respectively.     

Chemistry of micas from kimberlites and xenoliths—I. Micaceous kimberlites

Micaceous kimberlites from South Africa and Canada contain two types of groundmass mica less than 1 mm across. Very rare Type I micas are relatively iron-rich with $\text{mg [ = Mg/(Mg + Fe)] 0.45–0.65}$, TiO₂ 3–6 wt%, Al₂O₃ 14–16wt%, no Fe³⁺ required in tetrahedral sites, low NiO (~0.02 wt%), and relatively high na [Na₂O/(Na₂O + K₂O)] 0.02–0.03. The much more abundant Type II micas are variable in composition, but relative to Type I micas are more magnesium (mg 0.80-0.93), lower in TiO₂ (0.7–4.0 wt%) and Al₂O₃ (6.8–14.2 wt%), have substantial Fe³⁺ in tetrahedral sites, and have relatively low na. Both types may have rims with compositions indicative of mica-‘serpentine’ mixtures resulting from reaction with a highly aqueous fluid. The petrographically-determined ‘serpentine’ is chemically of two types: Fe-rich serpentine and Fe-rich talc. Associated phases in the ground-mass vary from one kimberlite to another: calcite, dolomite, diopside, chromite, Mg-ilmenite, perovskite, barite, pyrite, pentlandite, millerite?, heazlewoodite?, quartz.Inter-grain variations in composition of Type II micas may result from establishment of local reservoirs on a mm scale, consequent upon mechanical mixing and competition of other phases for minor elements (e.g. chromite for Cr, serpentine for Ni).Type I micas may result from an intrusive precursor (carbonatitic?) to kimberlite, perhaps genetically related, which was incorporated into a later pulse of kimberlite from which the Type II micas crystallized.     

Qualitative analysis of mafic dyke swarms and kimberlites from morphological and geophysical signatures,NW of Proterozoic Cuddapah basin,Eastern Dharwar craton

Widespread distribution of mafic dykes and scanty occurrence of ultrabasic intrusives of kimberlitic affinity around Proterozoic Cuddapah basin, parts of Eastern Dharwar craton of south India has been the focus of attention since their discovery, to understand the structural fabric in relation to their emplacement in geological time. Satellite Imagery, geomorphological, geophysical and radiometric age data of Narayanpet area, northwest of Cuddappah basin, have clearly displayed the alignments and structures of geological significance, such as deep seated fault / fracture / shear zones, stratigraphic / lithological contacts, basic / ultrabasic intrusives and younger granites etc,. Based on the field observations such as emplacement of mafic dykes, their cross cutting relationship, study of morphological and geophysical signatures, inferred linears drawn from satellite imagery, aeromagnetic and gravity maps are arranged in a chronological order. A system of long, narrow and widely spaced dykes trending NW-SE direction conformable to gneissic foliation, typically associated with migmatites in the southwestern part of the study area are the oldest. Followed by E-W dykes, cut across by the sparsely distributed dykes associated with NW-SE and N-S features and in turn off set by dykes of NE-SW trends are the youngest. Kimberlites of Narayanpet area, belongs to hypabysal facies, which are essentially controlled by E-W to ENE-WSW deep seated fault / fracture zone, their intersection with NW-SE, NE-SW to N-S trends, which may have been reactivated during Proterozoic period as indicated by the intrusion of mafic dykes (～2270 to 1701 Ma) and emplacement of kimberlitic magmatism (～1300 to 1100 Ma) suggesting different intrusive episodes. Kimberlite pipes of Narayanpet field, falls in an ellipsoid form trending WNW-ESE direction in the northern part of the area, associated with radial drainage / topographic high and a gravity low. In addition, physical properties such as density and magnetic susceptibilities of mafic dykes and kimberlites, their geophysical signatures, emplacement of kimberlites at the close vicinity of mafic dykes or at their intersections have also been discussed.