『Abstract
Although the mantle xenoliths carried by kimberlites are the
source of much of our information about the composition of the
mantle beneath the continents, the compositions of kimberlites
themselves have received little attention for the information
they carry about the nature of the lithospheric mantle. This neglect
in part reflects their common fragmental, contaminated, and hybrid
nature, but also the pervasive view that Group-I kimberlites are
sourced in the underlying asthenosphere. Insight into the nature
of kimberlites and their relationship to the other alkaline ultramafic
rocks, such as aillikites, olivine lamproites, and meimechites,
can be obtained by comparing their major element compositions
in a way that treats their carbonate content as a primary magmatic
phase. Group-I kimberlites and aillikites contain significant
magmatic carbonate and their compositions fall to the Si-poor
side of the composition of olivine. Group-I kimberlite can be
distinguished from aillikite on the basis of Fe content, but there
appears to be a gradation between these two endmembers. In contrast,
olivine lamproites and meimechites contain relatively little primary
magmatic carbonate and have compositions that are more Si-rich
than olivine.
Pearce element ratio analysis assuming P as a conserved element
indicates that much of the major element variation in hypabyssal
kimberlites can be explained by variable amounts of olivine and
orthopyroxene in proportions (〜70/30) similar to that of cratonic
mantle xenoliths. Much of the olivine is present as xenocrysts,
but the orthopyroxene is occult and has presumably been assimilated.
The fact that individual fields of alkaline ultramafic rocks are
characterized by uniform Fe and Ti contents that can be mapped
on a regional scale suggests that the major element composition
of these unusual rocks, and Group-I kimberlites in particular,
is a reflection of the continental lithospheric mantle with which
they have interacted. The association of Fe-rich aillikitic magmas
with zones of cratonic rifting, and the requirements of Fe-Mg
partitioning indicate that they form deeper than Group-I kimberlites,
near the intersection of the 1350℃ mantle adiabat with the CO2 mantle solidus, at pressures of 8+
GPa. According to our working model, Group-I kimberlites are produced
by the influx and reaction of carbonate-rich magmas with the highly
magnesian harzburgites of the lithospheric mantle beneath continental
cratons. In non-cratonic environments, these rising carbonate-rich
magmas evolve into aillikites because of the lower Mg#
of the asthenospheric mantle. They rarely reach the surface, however,
but become the enriched component incorporated into higher-degree
basaltic melts. An inverse correlation between diamond grade and
kimberlite Fe and Ti contents may simply reflect the fact kimberlites
with the lowest Ti contents have interacted with the most depleted
and reduced harzburgites of the lithospheric mantle, where diamonds
are most likely to be encountered.
Keywords: Kimberlite; Aillikite; Lithospheric mantle; Continent;
Diamond; Carbonatite』
1. Introduction
2. alkaline ultramafic rocks
2.1. Background
2.2. The compositions of alkaline ultramafic rocks
3. Discussion
3.1. Implications for the identification and classification
of the alkaline ultramafic rocks
3.2. Compositional variations within individual fields
3.3. Regional distribution of kimberlite, aillikite, and olivine
lamproite
3.4. Implications for the mantle sources of kimberlite and aillikite
3.5. A working model for the relationship between kimberlite
and aillikite
3.6. Implications for diamond exploration
4. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References