KIMBERLIT

ES
BY
WAJID REHMAN
&
NOORULLAH
BS GEOLGY
PART 3rd
MORNING
 CONTENTS
 DEFINITION
 TYPES
 TECTONIC SETTING
 SIZE AND GRADE
 THEORIES ABOUT ORIGIN OF
DIAMOND
 GENESIS
 EXPLORATION GUIDES
DEFINITION
 “ A serpetinised & carbonated mica-
peridotite of porphyritic texture
containing nodules of ultrabasic
rocks type, characterized by high
pressure minerals like pyrope, jadite
& diopside, may or may not
containing Diamond”
TYPES OF KIMBERLITE
 On the basis of concentration of xenoliths,
there are 3 types of Kimberlites
 Massive Kimberlite: A massive porphyritic
rock containing few fragments of country rocks,
eg. Kimberlite of the Kimberly dstt. S Africa.
 Intrusive Kimberlite Braccia: This type of
Kimberlite containing 20-60% fragments of
country rocks
 Kimberlite Tuff: This Kimberlite consists of
60-90% fragments of the country rocks
cemented by hydrothermal minerals.
TECTONIC SETTING
 They are confined to Highly stable Craton of
Pre-Cambrian age.
 They occurs at the margins of the Craton or
at the transitional zone between the large
tectonic dome (shield) & basin within a
large Craton.
 Kimberlites are thought to be intruded
during a strong uplift of continents.
AGE AND DISTRIBUTION
 The age of Kimberlites is Proterozoic to
Tertiary.
 Most Kimberlites are of Cretaceous age.
 As Pre-Cambrian Cratons are restricted in
space so they present in those areas of the
world where Cratons are exposed eg S
Africa, Bostwana, USSR, Australia & also
reported from Canada & USA.
MINEROLOGY
 It is a serpetinised and carbonated mica-
peridotite of porphyritic texture,
containing rounded / corroded
phenocrysts of olivine. Phlogopite,
magnesian ilmenite, pyrope, Cr-rich
Pyrope and Diamond.
FORM & SIZE
 They occur in the form of volcanic pipes,
sills and dykes.
 At the surface of Kimberlite pipe, there is
a crater with the depth of upto 300m.
 Walls of the pipe become steepened to
an angle of 80 degree while going down.
 Surface area of the pipe varies from 0.4-
146 Hectares (0.004 -1.46 square Km)
INSIDE DIAMOND MINE
GRADE
 Grade taken in both Quality and Quantity of
Diamond present in Kimberlite.
 1 out of 100 Kimberlite is economical ( b/c of
stability range of diamond, 450-600 Km )
 A low grade Kimberlite (0.6 carat/ton) can be
more valuable than a high grade one
(5carat/ton) { Gem Variety}
 1 carat = 200 mg
THEORIES ABOUT ORIGIN OF DIAMOND

 There are two opinions about the origin of

diamond in Kimberlites.
 Xenocrystic origin: Says that diamond is
derived by diamondiferous eclogite &
peridotite from mantle.
 Evidence: Some Cretaceous Kimberlite
containing the diamond of Pre-Cambrian
age.
THEORIES ABOUT ORIGIN OF DIAMOND

 Phenocrystic Origin: This concept say

that diamond has been form by the
precipitation of Kimberlitic magma.
 Evidence: Presence of delicate growth
structures and liquid inclusions of
composition similar to kimberlitic magma.
 Conclusion : Diamond is of both of the
origins
GENESIS
 Kimberlite represent the magma of ultrabasic
origin containing xenoliths of eclogite, which
comes through fractures OR weak zones.
 If CO2 and H2O are more in the Kimberlitic
magma, explosive eruption will take place
which will produce fractures in country rocks.
These fractures are later on filled by
Kimberlitic magma forming dykes & sills.
EXPLORATION GUIDES
 Geological Guides:
 Craton of the age of 2000-2500 Ma ( Pre-
Cambrian).
 Intersection of the area by a Regional fault.
 Presence of the Kimberlitic rocks is good key
for target selection,
EXPLORATION GUIDES
 Geophysical Guides:
 Gravitymetery ( show high value at the
point)
 Scintillometery ( Radioactive due to
phlogopite, K-mica )
 Magnetometery ( high value,,,
ferromagnesian & ilmenite present)
EXPLORATION GUIDES
 Mineralogical Guides:
 Kimberlites are characterized by Mg-Ilmenite,
Chrome diopside. Chromite, Enstatite, Olivine, Cr-
spinal and Zr may also be significant. These are
called Kimberlite Indicator Minerals.
 During the weathering of Kimberlite, these minerals
concentrated in residual soil and may become
dispersed in drainage system.
 This technique of Indicator minerals was used in the
exploration of Kimberlite in Kimberly Dstt. S
Africa,
ANY SUGGESTION ?
THANKS