Abstract
Kimberlites are characterized by a high concentration of incompatible elements, including light rare earths. However, Nd isotopic evidence indicates that their source regions do not have a long history of enrichment. If kimberlites can be generated from non-enriched mantle sources by simple partial melting processes, this implies that crystal–liquid partition coefficients for some trace elements are lower for kimberlitic liquids than for basalts or andesites. From a comparison of clinopyroxene megacrysts (regarded as equilibrated with kimberlite at depth) with existing kimberlite data we argue here that low crystal–liquid partition coefficients for the rare earths are plausible.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Eggler, D. H. Yb Carnegie Instn Wash. 74, 468–474 (1975).
Wyllie, P. J. J. Geol. 86, 687–713 (1978).
Barrett, D. R. & Berg, G. W. Phys. chem. Earth 9, 619–636 (1975).
DePaolo, D. J. & Wasserburg, G. J. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 43, 615–628 (1979).
O'Nions, R. K., Carter, S. R., Evensen, N. M. & Hamilton, P. J. A. Rev. Earth & planet. Sci. 7, 11–38 (1979).
Basu, A. H. & Tatsumoto, M. Science 205, 398–401 (1979).
DePaolo, D. J. U.S. Geol. Surv. Open File Rep. 1978-701, 81–93 (1978).
Hawkesworth, C. J. et al. Earth planet Sci. Lett. 42, 45–57 (1979).
Menzies, M. & Murthy, V. R. Nature 283, 634–636 (1980).
Kramers, J. D. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 34, 419–431 (1977).
Fesq, H. W., Kable, E. J. D. & Gurney, J. J. Phys. chem. Earth 9, 687–707 (1975).
Mitchell, R. H. & Brunfelt, A. O. Phys. chem. Earth 9, 671–686 (1975).
Frey, F. A., Ferguson, J. & Chappell, B. W. 2nd Int. Kimberlite Conf. Ext. Abstr. (Carnegie Institution, Washington DC, 1977).
Kramers, J. D. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 42, 58–70 (1979).
Barrett, D. R. Phys. chem. Earth 9, 637–654 (1975).
Shimizu, N. Phys. chem. Earth 9, 655–669 (1975).
Shimizu, N. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 25, 26–32 (1975).
Nixon, P. H. Rogers, N. W., Gibson, I. L. & Grey, A. A. Rev. Earth planet. Sci. (in the press).
Boyd, F. R. & Nixon, P. H. in Lesotho Kimberlites (ed. Nixon, P. H.) 67–75 (Lesotho National Development Corporation, 1973).
Dawson, J. B., Gurney, J. J. & Lawless, P. J. Nature 257, 299–300 (1975).
Menzies, M. & Murthy, V. R. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 46, 323–334 (1980).
Eggler, D. H., McCallum, M. E. & Smith, C. B. in The Mantle Sample, 213–226 (American Geophysical Union, 1979).
Boyd, F. R. & Nixon, P. H. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 42, 1367–1382 (1978).
Nixon, P. H., von Knorring, O. & Rooke, J. M. Am. Miner. 48, 1090–1132 (1963).
Green, H. W. II & Gueguen, Y. Nature 249, 617–620 (1974).
Boyd, F. R. & Danchin, R. V. Am. J. Sci. 280-A (Jackson Vol.) 528–549 (1980).
Sheppard, S. M. F. & Dawson, J. B. Phys. chem. Earth 9, 747–763 (1975).
Smith, C. B. thesis, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (1977).
Shimizu, N. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 38, 1789–1798 (1974).
Irving, A. J. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 42, 743–770 (1978).
Nicholls, A. & Harris, K. L. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 44, 287–308 (1980).
Onuma, N., Higuchi, H., Wakita, H. & Nagasawa, H. Earth planet Sci. Lett. 5, 47–51 (1968).
Philpotts, J. A. & Schnetzler, C. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 34, 307–322 (1970).
Schnetzler, C. & Philpotts, J. A. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 34, 331–340 (1970).
Wendlandt, R. F. & Harrison, W. J. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 69, 409–419 (1979).
Harris, P. G. & Middlemost, E. A. K. Lithos 3, 77–88 (1969).
Davis, G. L. 2nd Int. Kimberlite Conf. Ext. Abstr. (Carnegie Institution, Washington DC, 1977).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kramers, J., Smith, C., Lock, N. et al. Can Kimberlites be generated from an ordinary mantle?. Nature 291, 53–56 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/291053a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/291053a0
This article is cited by
-
Recycled crustal melt injection into lithospheric mantle: implication from cumulative composite and pyroxenite xenoliths
International Journal of Earth Sciences (2010)
-
An integrated model of kimberlite ascent and eruption
Nature (2007)
-
Mesoproterozoic diamondiferous ultramafic pipes at Majhgawan and Hinota, Panna area, central India: Key to the nature of sub-continental lithospheric mantle beneath the Vindhyan basin
Journal of Earth System Science (2006)
-
Crystallization of Cr-poor and Cr-rich megacryst suites from the host kimberlite magma: implications for mantle structure and the generation of kimberlite magmas
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (2005)
-
Carbonatite diversity in the Central Andes: the Ayopaya alkaline province, Bolivia
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (2004)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.