Groundmass Chromospinellides from Kimberlites of Khompu-May Kimberlite Field

Abstract

The current paper presents the results of studying chromites of kimberlite mesostasis forming the Manchary, Aprelskaya, Erel, Turakhskaya, and Artemova pipes within the Khompu-May kimberlite field (central Yakutia). Despite shared texture and structural characteristics and mineral composition of the kimberlites, chromospinellide composition is distinctive in each pipe. Groundmass chromium spinel of the Aprelskaya and Erel kimberlite pipes is characterized by the highest aluminum oxide content (>10 wt. %). Chromites from the Erel and Turakhskaya pipes as well as a fraction of grains from the Manchary pipe with titanium oxide (<4 wt. %) form a field of common composition by Cr2O3 and TiO2 content. The Aprelskaya and Artemova pipes show up to 17 wt. % TiO2 in chromites. Such a difference in titanium content correlates with perovskite content in kimberlite groundmass of the Khompu-May field. The results of the study revealed two trends in evolution of chromospinellide microcrystals (R. Mitchell, 1986) – ulvöspinel associated with typical kimberlites and titanomagnetite characteristic of micaceous kimberlites. Chromospinellides of the Aprelskaya pipe demonstrate the ulvöspinel trend only, suggesting earlier spinel crystallization relative to groundmass mica. Spinellides from the Erel and Artemova pipes follow the titanomagnetite trend only, being crystallized after formation of mesostasis mica. Spinellides from the Manchary and Turakhskaya pipes meet the ulvöspinel and titanomagnetite trend, indicating two stages of mineral crystallization relative to phlogopite.