Origin of salts and alkali carbonates in the Udachnaya East kimberlite: Insights from petrography of kimberlite phases and their carbonate and evaporite xenoliths

Abstract

The Udachnaya East kimberlite is characterized by the presence of chlorides, sulfates and alkali carbonates. This highly atypical mineralogy underpinned a model for an anhydrous alkali-rich primary kimberlite melt, despite the absence of petrographic studies providing textural context to the exotic minerals. The present work documents the petrography of the Udachnaya East kimberlite in order to address this problem. The pipe comprises two varieties of Fort-a-la-Corne type pyroclastic kimberlite, olivine-rich and magmaclast-rich, and coherent kimberlite. These kimberlites entrain xenoliths of limestones, altered shales and siltstones, halite-dominated rocks, dolomites, and coarse calcite rocks. The distinct varieties of the Udachnaya East kimberlite carry different populations of crustal xenoliths, which partially control the mineralogy of the host kimberlite. In magmaclast-rich pyroclastic kimberlite, where halite is absent from the crustal xenoliths, it is not observed in the interclast matrix, or within the magmaclasts. Halite occurs in the interclast matrix of olivine-rich pyroclastic kimberlite, where halite xenoliths are common. Large, ~30cm halite xenoliths are uniquely restricted to the coherent kimberlite and show a strong reaction with it. The halite xenoliths are sourced from depths of −1500 to −630m, where carbonate beds host multiple karst cavities filled with halite and gypsum and occasional sedimentary evaporites. The style of secondary mineralization at Udachnaya depends on whether the kimberlite is coherent or pyroclastic. Shortite, pirssonite and other alkali carbonates replacing calcite and possibly serpentine are abundant only in porous pyroclastic kimberlites of both types and in their shale/siltstone xenoliths. The lower porosity of the coherent kimberlite prevented the interaction of kimberlite with Na brines. Serpentinization localized around halite xenoliths started at temperatures above 500°C, as indicated by its association with high-temperature iowaite. The model of the “dry” Na and Cl-rich primary kimberlite melt is invalidated on the basis of 1) the restriction of exotic salt minerals to certain kimberlite types and xenoliths; and 2) the absence of halite-rich melt inclusions in olivine of coherent kimberlite.