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Origin of diamonds in old enriched mantle

Abstract

Sub-calcic garnets encapsulated by diamonds from relatively young (90 Myr) kimberlites in southern Africa, yield ancient Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr model ages (3,200–3,300 Myr). The chemistry and distribution of these and associated sub-calcic garnets from kimberlite concentrate, indicate diamonds formed following enrichment of residual sub-cratonic mantle such as that remaining after widespread extraction of 3,500-Myr komatiitic lavas.

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Richardson, S., Gurney, J., Erlank, A. et al. Origin of diamonds in old enriched mantle. Nature 310, 198–202 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/310198a0

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