Mineral inclusions in diamonds from the Sputnik kimberlite pipe, Yakutia

The Sputnik kimberlite pipe is a small “satellite” of the larger Mir pipe in central Yakutia (Sakha), Russia. Study of 38 large diamonds (0.7-4.9 carats) showed that nine contain inclusions of the eclogitic paragenesis, while the remainder contain inclusions of the peridotitic paragenesis, or of uncertain paragenesis. The peridotitic inclusion suite comprises olivine, enstatite, Cr-diopside, chromite, Cr-pyrope garnet (both lherzolitic and harzburgitic), ilmenite, Ni-rich sulfide and a Ti-Cr-Fe-Mg-Sr-K phase of the lindsleyite-mathiasite (LIMA) series. The eclogitic inclusion suite comprises omphacite, garnet, Ni-poor sulfide, phlogopite and rutile. Peridotitic ilmenite inclusions have high Mg, Cr and Ni contents and high Nb/Zr ratios; they may be related to metasomatic ilmenites known from peridotite xenoliths in kimberlite. Eclogitic phlogopite is intergrown with omphacite, coexists with garnet, and has an unusually high TiO₂ content. Comparison with inclusions in diamonds from Mir shows general similarities, but differences in details of trace-element patterns. Large compositional variations among inclusions of one phase (olivine, garnet, chromite) within single diamonds indicate that the chemical environment of diamond crystallisation changed rapidly relative to diamond growth rates in many cases. P-T conditions of formation were calculated from multiphase inclusions and from trace element geothermobarometry of single inclusions. The geotherm at the time of diamond formation was near a 35 mW/m² conductive model; that is indistinguishable from the Paleozoic geotherm derived by studies of xenoliths and concentrate minerals from Mir. A range of Ni temperatures between garnet inclusions in single diamonds from both Mir and Sputnik suggests that many of the diamonds grew during thermal events affecting a relatively narrow depth range of the lithosphere, within the diamond stability field. The minor differences between inclusions in Mir and Sputnik may reflect lateral heterogeneity in the upper mantle.     

Coalingite from kimberlite breccia of the Manchary pipe,Central Yakutia

Coalingite, Mg₁₀Fe₂(CO₃)(OH)₂₄ · 2H₂O, rare Mg–Fe hydrous carbonate, has been found in the course of the mineralogical study of a disintegrated kimberlite breccia from the Manchary pipe of the Khompu–May field located in the Tamma Basin, Central Yakutia, 100 km south of Yakutsk. Coalingite occurs as small reddish brown platelets, up to 0.2 mm in size. It is associated with lizardite, chrysotile and brucite, which are typical kimberlitic assemblage. Coalingite is a supergene mineral, but in this case, it is produced by the interaction of brucite-bearing kimberlite and underground water circulating through a vertical or oblique fault zone.     

Inclusions of crichtonite group minerals in pyropes from the Internatsionalnaya kimberlite pipe,Yakutia

The results of study of crichtonite group minerals in pyropes from the Internatsionalnaya kimberlite pipe are reported. Most of the studied samples are characterized by high concentrations of Sr, Ca, Na, and LREEs in comparison with minerals of the LIMA series from kimberlites of South Africa, whereas the average concentrations of Ba and K are significantly lower. Crichtonite group minerals in pyropes are characterized by predomination of Na over K in most samples and by a high concentration of Al₂O₃ (up to 4.5 wt %). Findings of inclusions of crichtonite group minerals with high concentrations of incompatible elements provide evidence for the metasomatic origin of host chromium-rich pyropes.     

Multi-stage metasomatism of diamondiferous eclogite xenoliths from the Udachnaya kimberlite pipe,Yakutia, Siberia

The primary garnet (pyrope-almandine)-omphacite (Cpx 1, 6.5–7 wt% Na₂O)-sulfide (Fe-Ni-Co mss) assemblage of the two diamondiferous eclogite xenoliths studied (U33/1 and UX/1) experienced two mantle metasomatic events. The metasomatic event I is recorded by the formation of platy phlogopite (~ 10 wt% K₂O), prior to incorporation of the xenoliths in the kimberlite. The bulk of the metasomatic alteration, consisting of spongy-textured clinopyroxene (Cpx 2A, 1–3 wt% Na₂O), coarser-grained clinopyroxene (Cpx 2B, 2–5 wt% Na₂O), pargasitic amphibole (~ 0.8 wt% K₂O; 3–3.5 wt% Na₂O), kelyphite (Cpx 3, mostly <1 wt% Na₂O; and zoned Mg-Fe-Al spinel), sodalite, calcite, K-feldspar, djerfisherite (K_5.95Na_0.02Fe_18.72Ni_2.36Co_0.01Cu_4.08S₂₆Cl ) and a small amount of K-Ca-Fe-Mg glass, is ascribed to the metasomatic event II that occurred also in the upper mantle, but after the xenoliths were incorporated in the kimberlite. A pervasive chloritic alteration (mainly clinochlore + magnetite) that overprints earlier assemblages probably took place in the upper crustal environment. The diamonds are invariably associated with secondary clinopyroxene and chlorite, but the diamonds formed before the entrainment of the xenoliths in the Udachnaya kimberlite.Editorial Responsibility: T.L. Grove     

The Petrology of Grospydite Xenoliths from the Zagadochnaya Kimberlite Pipe in Yakutia

The xenoliths of garnet–clinopyroxene–disthene rocks(grospydites and associated kyanite eclogites) from the Zagadochnayakimberlite pipe in Yakutia have been studied in detail. Contraryto previous data, the presence of a continuous range in thepyrope-grossular series of garnets is shown on the basis ofnumerous X-ray data and 17 chemical analyses of garnets. Thisconclusion is confirmed by the study of separate grains withkyanite intergrowths from the kimberlite heavy fraction, whichare present in the kimberlite as the result of destruction ofgrospydite xenoliths, and possible, of garnet-kyanite rocksalso. A close connection of the calcium content in the garnetwith the sodium content in the coexisting clinopyroxes is alsoshown. An increase in the chemical potential of sodium resultsin the stability of the pryoxene-kyanite assemblage insteadof a garnet of intermediate composition (50 percent of grossular).The interval of the miscibility gap between calcium-rich andcalcium-poor garnets is increased in this way. The data of chemicalanalyses of 14 pyroxenes from the xenoliths indicate that theydiffer in the high aluminium and sodium content from other pyroxenesof eclogite-facies rocks. Chromium-rich bands with a high chromiumcontent in coexisting garnet, pyroxene, and kyantic have beenoccasionally found in the xenoliths. A study has been made ofthe chrome-kyanite with 12.86 per Cr202. The presence of chromium-richminerals in the grospydite xenoliths confrms their connectionwith ultrabasic rocks.     

Kimberlites of the Manchary pipe: a new kimberlite field in Central Yakutia

This paper reports new petrographic and mineralogical data on the Manchary kimberlite pipe, which was discovered south of Yakutsk (Central Yakutia) in 2007–2008, 100 km. The pipe breaks through the Upper Cambrian carbonate deposits and is overlain by Jurassic terrigenous rock masses about 100 m thick. It is composed of greenish-gray kimberlite breccia with a serpentine-micaceous cement of massive structure. The porphyry texture of kimberlite is due to the presence of olivine, phlogopite, and picroilmenite phenocrysts. The SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ contents of the groundmass are indicative of typical noncontaminated kimberlites. The groundmass has a significant content of ore minerals: Fe- and Cr-spinels, perovskite, magnetite, and, less commonly, magnesian Cr-magnetite. Pyropes occur in kimberlites as sharp-edged fragments and show uneven distribution. Chemically, they belong to lherzolite, wehrlite, or nondiamondiferous dunite–harzburgite parageneses. Garnets corresponding to lherzolites of anomalous composition make up 8%; this is close to the garnet content of Middle Paleozoic kimberlites from the Yakutian kimberlite province. The pyropes from the new pipe are compositionally similar to those from diamond-poor Middle Paleozoic kimberlites in the north of the Yakutian diamondiferous province. Chemically, pyropes from the Manchary pipe and those from the modern alluvium of the Kengkeme and Chakyya Rivers differ substantially. Consequently, the rocks of the pipe could not be a source of pyropes for this alluvium. They probably occured from other sources. This fact along with numerous “pipelike” geophysical anomalies, suggest the existence of a new kimberlite field in Central Yakutia.     

Growth medium composition of coated diamonds from the Sytykanskaya kimberlite pipe (Yakutia)

We present the first results of studying the major- and trace-element composition of microinclusions in the coats of type IV diamonds from the Sytykanskaya pipe. These microinclusions are of silicate–carbonate composition. Similar compositions are reported for diamonds from the placers of the northeastern Siberian Platform and cuboids from the Internatsional'naya pipe. The microinclusions studied are close to kimberlites and carbonatites in trace-element composition but depleted in HFSE, Mg, and transition metals and enriched in K and LILE. The distribution of incompatible elements in the microinclusions studied is similar to the “table” pattern, which was observed for high-density hydrous-silicic fluids.     

Results of study of crystallographic orientation of olivine and diamond from Udachnaya kimberlite pipe,Yakutia

The crystallographic orientation of three diamonds and 19 olivine inclusions from Udachnaya kimberlite pipe was studied using monocrystal X-ray diffractometry. No epitaxial olivine inclusions were found.     

PGE distribution in deformed lherzolites of the Udachnaya kimberlite pipe (Yakutia)

The results of the first study of the PGE distribution in deformed lherzolites of the Udachnaya kimberlite pipe (Yakutia) are presented here. The complex character of evolution of the PGE composition in the Deformed lherzolites is assumed to be the result of silicate metasomatism. At the first stage, growth in the amount of clinopyroxene and garnet in the rock is accompanied by a decrease in the concentration of the compatible PGE (Os, Ir). During the final stage, the rock is enriched with incompatible PGE (Pt, Pd) and Re possible due to precipitation of submicron-sized particles of sulfides in the interstitial space of these mantle rocks.     

Interaction between protokimberlite melts and mantle lithosphere: Evidence from mantle xenoliths from the Dalnyaya kimberlite pipe,Yakutia (Russia)

The Dalnyaya kimberlite pipe(Yakutia,Russia) contains mantle peridotite xenoliths(mostly Iherzolites and harzburgites) that show both sheared porphyroclastic(deformed) and coarse granular textures,together with ilmenite and clinopyroxene megacrysts.Deformed peridotites contain high-temperature Fe-rich clinopyroxenes,sometimes associated with picroilmenites,which are products of interaction of the lithospheric mantle with protokimberlite related melts.The orthopyroxene-derived geotherm for the lithospheric mantle beneath Dalnyaya is stepped similar to that beneath the Udachnaya pipe.Coarse granular xenoliths fall on a geotherm of 35 mWm-2 whereas deformed varieties yield a 45 mWm-2)geotherm in the 2-7.5 GPa pressure interval.The chemistry of the constituent minerals including garnet,olivine and clinopyroxene shows trends of increasing Fe~#(=Fe/(Fe+Mg))with decreasing pressure.This may suggest that the interaction with fractionating protokimberlite melts occurred at different levels.Two major mantle lithologies are distinguished by the trace element patterns of their constituent minerals,determined by LA-ICP-MS.Orthopyroxenes,some clinopyroxenes and rare garnets are depleted in Ba,Sr,HFSE and MREE and represent relic lithospheric mantle.Re-fertilized garnet and clinopyroxene are more enriched.The distribution of trace elements between garnet and clinopyroxene shows that the garnets dissolved primary orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene.Later high temperature clinopyroxenes related to the protokimberlite melts partially dissolved these garnets.Olivines show decreases in Ni and increases in Al,Ca and Ti from Mg-rich varieties to the more Fe-rich,deformed and refertilized ones.Minerals showing higher Fe~#(0.11-0.15) are found within intergrowths of low-Cr ilmenite-clinopyroxene-garnet related to the crystallization of protokimberlite melts in feeder channels.In P-f(O_2) diagrams,garnets and Cr-rich clinopyroxenes indicate reduced conditions at the base of the lithosphere at-5 log units below a FMQ buffer.However,Cr-poor clinopyroxenes,together with ilmenite and some Fe-Ca-rich garnets,demonstrate a more oxidized trend in the lower part of lithosphere at-2 to 0 log units relative to FMQ.Clinopyroxenes from xenoliths in most cases show conditions transitional between those determined for garnets and megacrystalline Cr-poor suite.The relatively low diamond grade of Dalnyaya kimberlites is explained by a high degree of interaction with the oxidized protokimberlite melts,which is greater at the base of the lithosphere.     

Petrography and geochemistry of eclogites from the Mir kimberlite,Yakutia, Russia

 Diamond-bearing eclogites are an important component of the xenoliths that occur in the Mir kimberlite, Siberian platform, Russia. We have studied 16 of these eclogite xenoliths, which are characterized by coarse-grained, equigranular garnet and omphacite. On the basis of compositional variations in garnet and clinopyroxene, this suite of eclogites can be divided into at least two groups: a high-Ca group and a low-Ca group. The high-Ca group consists of high-Ca garnets in equilibrium with pyroxenes that have high Ca-ratios [Ca/(Ca+Fe+Mg)] and high jadeite contents. These high-Ca group samples have high modal% garnet, and garnet grains often are zoned. Garnet patches along rims and along amphibole- and phlogopite-filled veins have higher Mg and lower Ca contents compared to homogeneous cores. The low-Ca group consists of eclogites with low-Ca garnets in equilibrium with pyroxenes with a low Ca-ratio, but variable jadeite contents. These low-Ca group samples typically have low modal% of garnet, and garnets are rarely compositionally zoned. Three samples have mineralogic compositions and modes transitional to the high- and low-Ca groups. We have arbitrarily designated these samples as the intermediate-Ca group. The rare-earth-element (REE) contents of garnet and clinopyroxene have been determined by ion microprobe. Garnets from the low-Ca group have low LREE contents and typically have [Dy/Yb]_n < 1. The high-Ca group garnets have higher LREE contents and typically have [Dy/Yb]_n > 1. Garnets from the intermediate-Ca group have REE contents between the high- and low-Ca groups. Clinopyroxenes from the low-Ca group have convex-upward REE patterns with relatively high REE contents (ten times chondrite), whereas those from the high-Ca group have similar convex-upward shapes, but lower REE contents, approximately chondritic. Reconstructed bulk-rock REE patterns for the low-Ca group eclogites are relatively flat at approximately ten times chondrite. In contrast, the high-Ca group samples typically have LREE-depleted patterns and lower REE contents. The δ¹⁸O values measured for garnet separates range from 7.2 to 3.1‰. Although there is a broad overlap of δ¹⁸O between the low-Ca and high-Ca groups, the low-Ca group samples range from mantle-like to high δ¹⁸O values (4.9 to 7.2‰), and the high-Ca group garnets range from mantle-like to low δ¹⁸O values (5.3 to 3.1‰). The oxygen isotopic compositions of two of the five high-Ca group samples and four of the eight low-Ca group eclogites are consistent with seawater alteration of basaltic crust, with the low-Ca group eclogites representative of low-temperature alteration, and the high-Ca group samples representative of high-temperature hydrothermal seawater alteration. We interpret the differences between the low- and high-Ca group samples to be primarily a result of differences in the protoliths of these samples. The high-Ca group eclogites are interpreted to have protoliths similar to the mid to lower sections of an ophiolite complex. This section of oceanic crust would be dominated by rocks which have a significant cumulate component and would have experienced high-temperature seawater alteration. Such cumulate rocks probably would be LREE-depleted, and can be Ca-rich because of plagioclase or clinopyroxene accumulation. The protoliths of the low-Ca group eclogites are interpreted to be the upper section of an ophiolite complex. This section of oceanic crust would consist mainly of extrusive basalts that would have been altered by seawater at low temperatures. These basaltic lavas would probably have relatively flat REE patterns, as seen for the low-Ca group eclogites. Received: 10 July 1995 / Accepted: 17 May 1996     

Phlogopite in mantle xenoliths and kimberlite from the Grib pipe,Arkhangelsk province,Russia:Evidence for multi-stage mantle metasomatism and origin of phlogopite in kimberlite

We present petrography and mineral chemistry for both phlogopite,from mantle-derived xenoliths(garnet peridotite,eclogite and clinopyroxene-phlogopite rocks)and for megacryst,macrocryst and groundmass flakes from the Grib kimberlite in the Arkhangelsk diamond province of Russia to provide new insights into multi-stage metasomatism in the subcratonic lithospheric mantle(SCLM)and the origin of phlogopite in kimberlite.Based on the analysed xenoliths,phlogopite is characterized by several generations.The first generation(Phil)occurs as coarse,discrete grains within garnet peridotite and eclogite xenoliths and as a rock-forming mineral within clinopyroxene-phlogopite xenoliths.The second phlogopite generation(Phl2)occurs as rims and outer zones that surround the Phil grains and as fine flakes within kimberlite-related veinlets filled with carbonate,serpentine,chlorite and spinel.In garnet peridotite xenoliths,phlogopite occurs as overgrowths surrounding garnet porphyroblasts,within which phlogopite is associated with Cr-spinel and minor carbonate.In eclogite xenoliths,phlogopite occasionally associates with carbonate bearing veinlet networks.Phlogopite,from the kimberlite,occurs as megacrysts,macrocrysts,microcrysts and fine flakes in the groundmass and matrix of kimberlitic pyroclasts.Most phlogopite grains within the kimberlite are characterised by signs of deformation and form partly fragmented grains,which indicates that they are the disintegrated fragments of previously larger grains.Phil,within the garnet peridotite and clinopyroxene-phlogopite xenoliths,is characterised by low Ti and Cr contents(TiO_21 wt.%,Cr_2 O_31 wt.% and Mg# = 100 × Mg/(Mg+ Fe)92)typical of primary peridotite phlogopite in mantle peridotite xenoliths from global kimberlite occurrences.They formed during SCLM metasomatism that led to a transformation from garnet peridotite to clinopyroxene-phlogopite rocks and the crystallisation of phlogopite and high-Cr clinopyroxene megacrysts before the generation of host-kimberlite magmas.One of the possible processes to generate low-Ti-Cr phlogopite is via the replacement of garnet during its interaction with a metasomatic agent enriched in K and H_2O.Rb-Sr isotopic data indicates that the metasomatic agent had a contribution of more radiogenic source than the host-kimberlite magma.Compared with peridotite xenoliths,eclogite xenoliths feature low-Ti phlogopites that are depleted in Cr_2O_3 despite a wider range of TiO_2 concentrations.The presence of phlogopite in eclogite xenoliths indicates that metasomatic processes affected peridotite as well as eclogite within the SCLM beneath the Grib kimberlite.Phl2 has high Ti and Cr concentrations(TiO_22 wt.%,Cr_2O_31 wt.% and Mg# = 100× Mg/(Mg + Fe)92)and compositionally overlaps with phlogopite from polymict brecc:ia xenoliths that occur in global kimberlite formations.These phlogopites are the product of kimberlitic magma and mantle rock interaction at mantle depths where Phl2 overgrew Phil grains or crystallized directly from stalled batches of kimberlitic magmas.Megacrysts,most macrocrysts and microcrysts are disintegrated phlogopite fragments from metasomatised peridotite and eclogite xenoliths.Fine phlogopite flakes within kimberlite groundmass represent mixing of high-Ti-Cr phlogopite antecrysts and high-Ti and low-Cr kimberlitic phlogopite with high Al and Ba contents that may have formed individual grains or overgrown antecrysts.Based on the results of this study,we propose a schematic model of SCLM metasomatism involving phlogopite crystallization,megacryst formation,and genesis of kimberlite magmas as recorded by the Grib pipe.