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Multiple Growth Episodes or Prolonged Formation of Diamonds? Inferences from Infrared Absorption Data

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Proceedings of 10th International Kimberlite Conference

Abstract

The infrared characteristics of 21 sulphide inclusion-bearing diamonds from Finsch Mine, 1 sulphide inclusion-bearing diamond from Udachnaya and 18 silicate inclusion-bearing diamonds from Premier were examined and modelled to investigate the complexity of diamond genesis. Internal heterogeneities in N-abundance and aggregation state within individual diamonds at Finsch range from 5 to 336 at.ppm and 2–60 % of B-defects, respectively. The Udachnaya diamond 3648 displays a steep decrease from the core to the rim of N-abundance from 482 to 10 at.ppm. Nitrogen aggregation state describes the same trend with value of 86 %B in the core down to 14 %B in the rim. Internal variations in N-abundance and aggregation state within diamonds from Premier are 93–654 at.ppm and of 7–62 %B, respectively. These variations reflect more likely multiple growth episodes of diamond at distinct ages rather than steady changes in temperature conditions during prolonged diamond growth. Modelling of infrared characteristics indicates that some diamonds have experienced distinct growth episodes over extended time periods with estimates up to 2,387 ± 931 Ma. There are implications for dating studies, indicating that isochron ages may be flawed as there appears to be no single formation age for a single diamond. N-abundance and aggregation state mapping by FTIR provide the opportunity to constrain diamond growth history for selecting diamonds for dating.

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Acknowledgments

The Finsch diamond samples used in this study were gifted to JWH by the Diamond Trading Company, a member of the DeBeers Group of Companies. The authors sincerely thank DeBeers for this material. The Udachnaya diamond plate was generously provided by the Diamond and Precious Metal Geology Institute, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. The Premier diamonds were made available for study by De Beers. We thank Judith Milledge for her FTIR measurements. The study was funded by a CERC award to D.G. Pearson. The authors express their appreciation to L.A. Taylor and D. Wiggers de Vries for their reviews, which has resulted in improvement to the manuscript and helped improve the ideas presented here.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

    M. Palot, D. G. Pearson & T. Stachel

  2. School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    J. W. Harris

  3. School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    G. P. Bulanova

  4. De Beers Geoscience Centre, ., South Africa

    I. Chinn

Authors
  1. M. Palot
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  2. D. G. Pearson
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  3. T. Stachel
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  4. J. W. Harris
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  5. G. P. Bulanova
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  6. I. Chinn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Palot .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    D Graham Pearson

  2. Dept of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Herman S Grütter

  3. School of Geographical & Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

    Jeff W Harris

  4. Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Bruce A Kjarsgaard

  5. Finland Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), Espoo, Finland

    Hugh O’Brien

  6. Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

    N V Chalapathi Rao

  7. School of Earth Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol, United Kingdom

    Steven Sparks

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© 2013 Geological Society of India

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Palot, M., Pearson, D.G., Stachel, T., Harris, J.W., Bulanova, G.P., Chinn, I. (2013). Multiple Growth Episodes or Prolonged Formation of Diamonds? Inferences from Infrared Absorption Data. In: Pearson, D., et al. Proceedings of 10th International Kimberlite Conference. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1170-9_18

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