Unfolding primary composition of kimberlite melt and processes of mantle enrichment in critical metals; their effect on economic value of kimberlites

金伯利岩是到达地球表面的最深的地幔岩浆，是主要经济钻石矿床的宿主。金伯利岩起源于大陆地幔深处（> 150 km），这是由于对地幔中稀有和挥发性元素（包括一些关键金属）的化学富集过程知之甚少。这使得了解金伯利岩熔体在地幔中的生产过程非常重要。拟议项目旨在确定原生金伯利岩熔体的成分、起源和演变及其对喷发机制和金伯利岩地质的影响。关于原生金伯利岩熔体成分的现有观点在碳酸岩熔体和硅酸盐熔体之间变化，其基础是（i）金伯利岩的岩石地球化学和矿物学研究和（ii）金伯利岩可能的地幔来源的实验熔融。拟议的项目将把这些研究与一种新的方法结合起来，这种方法将检查金伯利岩岩浆与金伯利岩所携带的地幔矿物（金刚石、铬铁矿、钛铁矿、石榴石）之间的反应。在响应的结晶条件和金伯利岩岩浆的组成，这些矿物开发：（i）溶解功能，（ii）成分分带，（iii）边缘的次生矿物相。拟议的研究将使用高压实验来检查这些反应，并将结果应用于来自世界各地金伯利岩地区的天然金刚石和铁钛氧化物。与钻石采矿业的合作提供了一个特殊的访问与地质控制的样品从特定深度和单位内的复合金伯利岩管道。金伯利岩熔体的组成和演化的知识是必不可少的理解：地幔过程导致金伯利岩岩浆作用，金伯利岩地质的巨大变化的原因，以及它们对钻石经济潜力的影响。该研究旨在开发新的分析方法，以帮助改进金伯利岩体的勘探技术和评估，以维持现有矿山并增加其价值。拟议的研究将有助于解开深部地幔过程，并改善勘探技术，使世界第三大钻石生产国加拿大的钻石开采业受益。

Kimberlites, the deepest mantle magmas that reach the surface of the Earth, are the hosts to the major economic diamond deposits. Kimberlites originate deep (> 150 km) in subcontinental mantle due to poorly understood processes of chemical enrichment of the mantle with rare and volatile elements including some of the critical metals. This makes understanding of processes of kimberlite melt production in the mantle very important. The proposed project aims to establish the composition, origin and evolution of primary kimberlite melt and its effect on the eruption mechanism and kimberlite geology. The existing views on the composition of primary kimberlite melt vary between carbonatitic and silicate melt based on (i) study of bulk rock geochemistry and mineralogy of kimberlites and on (ii) experimental melting of possible mantle sources of kimberlites. The proposed project will integrate these studies with a novel method which examines the reaction between kimberlite magma and mantle minerals carried by kimberlites (diamond, chromite, ilmenite, garnet). In response to the crystallization conditions and composition of kimberlite magma, these minerals develop: (i) dissolution features, (ii) compositional zoning, and (iii) rims of secondary mineral phases. The proposed study will use high-pressure-experiments to examine these reactions and apply the results to natural diamonds and Fe-Ti oxides from worldwide kimberlite localities. Collaboration with diamond mining industry provides an exceptional access to the samples with geological control from specific depths and units within composite kimberlite pipes. Knowledge of the composition and evolution of kimberlite melt is essential for understanding: mantle processes leading to kimberlite magmatism, causes of the large variation in kimberlite geology, and their effect on diamond economic potential. The study aims to develop new analytical methods to help improving exploration techniques and assessment of kimberlite bodies, for sustaining and adding value to the existing mines. The proposed research will help to unravel deep mantle processes and improve exploration techniques to benefit diamond mining industry in Canada, the third world largest diamond producer.