The formation of peridotitic suite inclusions in diamonds

Abstract

Olivine, orthopyroxene and garnet grains belonging to the peridotitic suite of mineral inclusions in natural diamonds typically show compositions poorer in Ca and Al and richer in Mg and Cr than the same minerals in peridotite nodules in kimberlite. Other features suggest the crystallisation of diamonds from magmas of kimberlitic affinities, and it is suggested that the genesis of peridotitic suite diamonds is linked with that of a CO2-bearing magma. It is shown that the generation of kimberlitic magma from common garnet-peridotite (with 5 wt.% clinopyroxene) in the presence of CO2 may rapidly remove by melting all Ca-rich solid phases (clinopyroxene and/or carbonate). Further melting may form liquids in equilibrium with olivine, orthopyroxene, and garnet with the distinctive compositions of the diamond inclusions. The amount of melting and CO2 necessary for the loss of clinopyroxene (and/or carbonate) are estimated at approximately 5.0 wt.% and 0.5 wt.% respectively.