天然金刚石结构中氢的赋存状态

利用振动光谱（IR、RAMAM）研究金刚石结构中的含氢物相，发现金刚石结构中存在晶格氢和间隙氢两种。其中HF的存在为首次提出。同时不同的含氢物相在金刚石结构中的赋存状态不尽相同。     

金则石粒径测试方法的研究

利用数字摄像和计算机技术，对金钢石的粒径等参数进行了测试，对数据的分析揭示了金刚石粒径，等效短径和平均网径之间的内在关系，提出了以平均网径为基础，建立金刚石粒径标准的方法。     

黔东—湘西早古生代岩石圈热状态与高产热率HHPRM型地幔源区

岩石圈热结构和热状态的研究对于大陆裂解、变质作用及活化构造形成机制等大陆动力学问题的研究十分重要。通过地球化学、构造地质学和综合分析,以贵州省镇远地区金伯利岩-钾镁煌斑岩和黔东—湘西一带的晚元古代地层为例,研究了扬子地块东南缘早古生代岩石圈热结构与热状态。提出高放射性元素产热率的HHPRM型地幔源区,进一步讨论HHPRM型地幔源区形成与演化的大陆动力学机制。认为古富集地幔(HHPRM型地幔源区)是镇远一带的早古生代钾镁煌斑岩-金伯利岩的岩浆源区,镇远地区金伯利岩-钾镁煌斑岩岩浆源区深度(H)在208～244km,形成温度在1547～1403℃间,该温度和深度范围属软流层,具有形成金刚石矿床的地质条件。建议在贵州—湖南—广西三省交界区的金伯利岩和钾镁煌斑岩岩群中应进一步开展金刚石矿床研究与勘查工作。     

Peridotitic diamonds from the Slave and the Kaapvaal cratons—similarities and differences based on a preliminary data set

A comparison of the diamond productions from Panda (Ekati Mine) and Snap Lake with those from southern Africa shows significant differences: diamonds from the Slave typically are un-resorbed octahedrals or macles, often with opaque coats, and yellow colours are very rare. Diamonds from the Kaapvaal are dominated by resorbed, dodecahedral shapes, coats are absent and yellow colours are common. The first two features suggest exposure to oxidizing fluids/melts during mantle storage and/or transport to the Earth's surface, for the Kaapvaal diamond population.

Comparing peridotitic inclusions in diamonds from the central and southern Slave (Panda, DO27 and Snap Lake kimberlites) and the Kaapvaal indicates that the diamondiferous mantle lithosphere beneath the Slave is chemically less depleted. Most notable are the almost complete absence of garnet inclusions derived from low-Ca harzburgites and a generally lower Mg-number of Slave inclusions.

Geothermobarometric calculations suggest that Slave diamonds originally formed at very similar thermal conditions as observed beneath the Kaapvaal (geothermal gradients corresponding to 40–42 mW/m² surface heat flow), but the diamond source regions subsequently cooled by about 100–150 °C to fall on a 37–38 mW/m² (surface heat flow) conductive geotherm, as is evidenced from touching (re-equilibrated) inclusions in diamonds, and from xenocrysts and xenoliths. In the Kaapvaal, a similar thermal evolution has previously been recognized for diamonds from the De Beers Pool kimberlites. In part very low aggregation levels of nitrogen impurities in Slave diamonds imply that cooling occurred soon after diamond formation. This may relate elevated temperatures during diamond formation to short-lived magmatic perturbations.

Generally high Cr-contents of pyrope garnets (inside and outside of diamonds) indicate that the mantle lithosphere beneath the Slave originally formed as a residue of melt extraction at relatively low pressures (within the stability field of spinelperidotites), possibly during the extraction of oceanic crust. After emplacement of this depleted, oceanic mantle lithosphere into the Slave lithosphere during a subduction event, secondary metasomatic enrichment occurred leading to strong re-enrichment of the deeper (>140 km) lithosphere. Because of the extent of this event and the occurrence of lower mantle diamonds, this may be related to an upwelling plume, but it may equally just reflect a long term evolution with lower mantle diamonds being transported upwards in the course of “normal” mantle convection.     

Geology of the Mwadui kimberlite, Shinyanga district, Tanzania

The Mwadui pipe represents the largest diamondiferous kimberlite ever mined and is an almost perfectly preserved example of a kimberlitic crater in-fill, albeit without the tuff ring.

The geology of Mwadui can be subdivided into five geological units, viz. the primary pyroclastic kimberlite (PK), re-sedimented volcaniclastic kimberlite deposits (RVK), granite breccias (subdivided into two units), the turbidite deposits, and the yellow shales listed in approximate order of formation. The PK can be further subdivided into two units—lithic-rich ash and lapilli tuffs which dominate the succession, and lithic-poor juvenile-rich ash and lapilli tuffs. The lower crater is well bedded down to at least 684 m from present surface (extent of current drill data). The bedding is defined by the presence of juvenile-rich lapilli tuffs vs. lithic-rich lapilli tuffs, and the systematic variation in granite content and clast size within much of the lithic-rich lapilli tuffs. Four distinct types of bedding have been identified in the pyroclastic deposits. Diffuse zones characterised by increased granite abundance and size, and upward-fining units, represent the dominant types throughout the deposit.

Lateral heterogeneity was observed, in addition to the vertical changes, suggesting that the eruption was quite heterogeneous, or that more than one vent may have been present. The continuous nature of the bedding in the pyroclastic material and the lack of ash-partings suggest deposition from a high concentration (ejecta), sustained eruption column at times, e.g. the massive, very diffusely stratified deposits. The paucity of tractional bed forms suggest near vertical particle trajectories, i.e. a clear air-fall component, but the poorly sorted, matrix-supported nature of the deposits suggest that pyroclastic flow and/or surge processes may also have been active during the eruption.

Available diamond sampling data were examined and correlated with the geology. Data derive from the old 120 (37 m), 200 (61 m), 300 (92 m) and 1200 ft (366 m) levels, pits sunk during historical mining operations, drill logs, as well as more recent bench mapping. Correlating macro-diamond sample data and geology shows a clear relationship between diamond grade and lithology. Localised enrichment and dilution of the primary diamond grade has taken place in the upper reworked volcaniclastic deposits due to post-eruptive sedimentary in-fill processes. Clear distinction can be drawn between upper (re-sedimented) and lower (pyroclastic) crater deposits at Mwadui, both from a geological and diamond grade perspective.

Finally, an emplacement model for the Mwadui kimberlite is proposed. Geological evidence suggests that little or no sedimentary cover existed at the time of emplacement. The nature of the bedding within the pyroclastic deposits and the continuity of the bedding in the vertical dimension suggest that the eruption was continuous, but that the eruption column may have been heterogeneous, both petrologically as well as geometrically. Volcanic activity appears to have ceased thereafter and the crater was gradually filled with granite debris from the unstable crater walls and re-sedimented volcaniclastic material derived from the tuff ring.

The Mwadui kimberlite exhibits marked similarities compared to the Orapa kimberlite in Botswana.     

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.     

Multiple-mineral inclusions in diamonds from the Snap Lake/King Lake kimberlite dike, Slave craton, Canada: a trace-element perspective

Multiple inclusions of minerals in diamonds from the Snap Lake/King Lake kimberlites of the southeastern Slave craton in Canada have been analyzed for trace elements to elucidate the petrogenetic history of these inclusions, and of their host diamonds. As observed worldwide, the harzburgitic-garnet diamond inclusions (DIs) possess sinusoidal REE patterns that indicate an early depletion event, followed by metasomatism by LREE-enriched, HREE-depleted fluids. Furthermore, these fluids appear to contain appreciable concentrations of LILE and HFSE, based on the increasing abundances of these elements in the olivine inclusion that occurs at the outer portion of a diamond compared to that near the core. The compositions of these fluids are probably a mixture of hydrous-silicic melt, carbonatitic melt, and brine, similar to the compositions of micro-inclusions in diamonds reported by Navon et al. (2003). Comparison between the compositions of majoritic and normal harzburgitic garnets shows that the former are more depleted in terms of major/minor elements (higher Cr#) but significantly more enriched in the REE (up to 10×). This characteristic may indicate the higher susceptibility for metasomatic enrichment of previously more depleted garnets. Garnets of eclogitic paragenesis show strong LREE-depleted patterns, whereas the coexisting omphacite inclusion has relatively flat light- and middle-REE but depleted HREE. Whole-rock reconstruction from coexisting garnet and omphacite inclusions indicates that the protolith of these inclusions was probably the extrusive section of an oceanic crust, subducted beneath the Slave craton.     

Nature of diamonds in Yakutian eclogites: views from eclogite tomography and mineral inclusions in diamonds

We have performed dissections of two diamondiferous eclogites (UX-1 and U33/1) from the Udachnaya kimberlite, Yakutia in order to understand the nature of diamond formation and the relationship between the diamonds, their mineral inclusions, and host eclogite minerals. Diamonds were carefully recovered from each xenolith, based upon high-resolution X-ray tomography images and three-dimensional models. The nature and physical properties of minerals, in direct contact with diamonds, were investigated at the time of diamond extraction. Polished sections of the eclogites were made, containing the mould areas of the diamonds, to further investigate the chemical compositions of the host minerals and the phases that were in contact with diamonds. Major- and minor-element compositions of silicate and sulfide mineral inclusions in diamonds show variations among each other, and from those in the host eclogites. Oxygen isotope compositions of one garnet and five clinopyroxene inclusions in diamonds from another Udachnaya eclogite (U51) span the entire range recorded for eclogite xenoliths from Udachnaya. In addition, the reported compositions of almost all clinopyroxene inclusions in U51 diamonds exhibit positive Eu anomaly. This feature, together with the oxygen isotopic characteristics, is consistent with the well-established hypothesis of subduction origin for Udachnaya eclogite xenoliths. It is intuitive to expect that all eclogite xenoliths in a particular kimberlite should have common heritage, at least with respect to their included diamonds. However, the variation in the composition of multiple inclusions within diamonds, and among diamonds, from the same eclogite indicates the involvement of complex processes in diamond genesis, at least in the eclogite xenoliths from Yakutia that we have studied.     

应用于地球深部物质科学研究的静态超高压实验技术

三十多年来静态超高压实验技术已发展成为实验压力、温度范围分别为1～550GPa,-256°～3500℃,主要应用于下地壳、地幔及地核物质的物理和化学性质研究,并已取得大量研究成果的一项实验技术。本文简要介绍了该项实验技术与地学领域其它高温高压实验技术的区别,以及静态超高压实验装置的两大系列——金钢石压腔装置和大腔体高压装置的特点和应用情况。并对这两大系列实验技术的发展前景和我国应有的对策进行了评述。     

热液金刚石压腔 (HDAC)在地质上的应用及甲烷水合物合成实验研究

热液金刚石压腔 (HDAC)是 2 0世纪末发展起来的一种高温高压及低温高压实验技术。它可在 - 180～ 12 0 0℃ ,10 0～ 10 0 0 0MPa水热体系进行实验 ,并具直观实验全过程的特点。文中首次运用HDAC在水体系中对哀牢山花岗岩进行了熔融实验 ,在显微镜下观察到花岗岩熔融过程 ,其初熔温度为 712 88～ 714 87℃ ,压力为 2 2 5MPa ,熔融温度为 759 54～76 0 0 0℃ ,压力为 30 0MPa。重点介绍了国外运用HDAC进行冰的高压相、水体系中伟晶岩矿物溶解、可燃有机岩、石油及岩石热解、高压下矿物包裹体均一温度测定及甲烷水合物合成实验研究新成果。甲烷水合物在永久冻土带及大陆坡、海底高原、海底沉积物等地质环境广泛分布 ,储量大 ,可成为 2 1世纪人类使用的新能源。目前世界主要国家的科学家除致力于该资源勘探外 ,还运用不同方法进行甲烷水合物的合成研究 ,以了解其形成条件及性质。开发和应用甲烷水合物具有重大意义 ,为促进我国此项工作开展 ,文中作了重点介绍。