Significance of Eclogitic and Related Parageneses of Natural Diamonds

Abstract

Eclogitic (E-type) and related parageneses of natural diamonds are represented by suites of diamond inclusions and xenoliths of diamondiferous eclogites. Major-element data are presented for 32 coexisting minerals forming 19 bimineralic and trimineralic inclusions from diamonds, including omphacite-orthopyroxene (1 sample), garnet-omphacite (5 samples), garnet-coesite (5 samples), omphacite-coesite (2 samples), garnet-picroilmenite (2 samples), garnet-kyanite (1 sample), omphacite-phlogopite (2 samples), and garnel-omphacite-phlogopite (1 sample). Major-element variations of coexisting minerals are typical of corresponding eclogites. Omphacite with 5.02 wt% Na2O, inter-grown with orthopyroxene with Mg# 83.7, represents the first example of a diamondiferous websterite paragenesis including Na-clinopyroxene. This indicates a broader range in mineral compositions of E-type-related websteritepyroxenite-associated diamonds than known previously. This unique websterite-pyroxenitic mineral assemblage represents a transitional paragenesis between peridotitic or ultramafic (U-type) and E-type parageneses. Bimineralic eclogites, ilmenite eclogites, coesite + corundum + kyanite eclogites, and grospydites occur not only as sets of inclusions in diamonds but, with a few exceptions (ilmenite and coesite eclogites), also as diamondiferous eclogite xenoliths. The coesite eclogite paragenesis is a significant inclusion suite in diamonds, and was detected in about 15 diamond occurrences worldwide. It represents from 15% to 22% of all E-type diamonds in several occurrences, and thus should not be considered as rare.