General Patterns of Impact Diamond Distribution

Abstract

Impact diamonds are widespread in impactites on the whole area of the occurrence of the latter in the Popigai impact structure; however, they distribute unevenly. Diamonds grade is more in the annular zone encompassing the annular trough and partly peak ring. However, the most significant are radial-ray inhomogeneities in the distribution of diamonds. The content of diamonds on the area in both suevites and tagamites varies concordantly, but in tagamites it is always higher. On the whole, it correlates with the content of products of impact melting. Some correlations between diamond-bearing of impactites and certain patterns of their chemical composition, and temperature regime of individual melt fractions and their cooling, and the conditions of its occurrence are established. Briefly described are explored deposits of impact diamonds Udarnoe and Skalnoe, as well as other primary and secondary diamond appearances including recent alluvial placers. The identified resources of impact diamonds in the Popigai impact structure prevail over all known diamond reserves of all kimberlite provinces in the world. Impact diamonds represent a new type of economic minerals that can be used in industry.