Information AboutLamproite |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT LAMPROITE | |
| igneous rocks | |
| volcanology | |
| economic geology | |
| petrology | |
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Lamproites are geographically widespread yet are volumentrically insignificant. Unlike Kimberlite s which are found exclusively in Archaean Craton s, lamproites are found in crust of varying age, ranging from Archaean examples in Western Australia, to Palaeozoic in southern Spain. They are also widely varied in age, from Proterozoic to Holocene , the youngest known example being 56,000 +/- 5,000 years old. Lamproite volcanology is varied, with both Diatreme styles and Cinder Cone or cone edifices known. Petrology Lamproites form from partially melted Mantle at depths exceeding 150 km. The molten material is forced to the surface in Volcanic Pipe s, bringing with it Xenolith s and diamonds from the Harzburgitic Peridotite or Eclogite mantle regions where diamond formation is stabilized. Recent research and lead-lead Isotope Geochemistry has revealed that the source of lamproites may be transition zone melts of subducted lithosphere which has become trapped at the base of the lithospheric mantle. This observation also reconciles the depth of melting with the peculiar geochemistry, which is most easily explained by melting of already felsic material under deep mantle conditions. Mineralogy The mineralogy of lamproites is controlled by their pecliar Geochemistry , with a predominance of rare silica-deficient mineal species and rare, mantle-derived minerals predominating. Minerals typical of lamproites include: Forsteritic olivine; high Iron Leucite ; Titanium -rich Aluminium -poor Phlogopite ; Potassium - and titanium-rich Richterite ; low aluminium Diopside ; and iron-rich Sanidine . A variety of rare trace minerals occur. The rocks are high in potassium with 6 to 8% Potassium Oxide . High Chromium and Nickel content is typical. The rocks commonly are altered to Talc with Carbonate or Serpentine , Chlorite , and Magnetite . Zeolite s and Quartz may also occur. Lamproites are characterized by the presence of widely varying amounts (5-90 vol.%) of the following primary phases (Mitchell & Bergman, 1991):
The presence of all the above phases is not required in order to classify a rock as a lamproite. Any one mineral may be dominant, and this, together with the two or three other major minerals present, suffices to determine the petrographic name. The presence of the following minerals precludes a rock from being classified as a lamproite: primary plagioclase, melilite, monticellite, kalsilite, nepheline, Na-rich alkali feldspar, sodalite, nosean, hauyne, melanite, schorlomite or kimzeyite. Geochemistry Lamproites conform to the following chemical characteristics:
Economic importance The economic significance of lamproite became known with the 1979 discovery of the Argyle Diamond Pipe in Western Australia . This discovery led to the intense study and re-evaluation of other known lamproite occurrences worldwide; previously only Kimberlite pipes were considered economically viable sources of Diamond s. The Argyle diamond mine remains the only economically viable source of lamproite diamonds. This deposit differs markedly by having a high content of diamonds but low quality of most of stones. Research at Argyle diamond have shown that most of stones are of E-type, they originate from Eclogite source rocks and were formed under high temperature ~1400 °C. The Argyle diamond mine is the main source of rare pink diamonds. Olivine lamproite Pyroclastic rocks and Dikes are sometimes hosts for Diamond s. The diamonds occur as Xenocryst s that have been carried to the surface or to shallow depths by the lamproite Diapir ic Intrusion s. The diamonds of Crater Of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, Arkansas are found in a lamproite host. Nomenclature ''Historic'' Modern ''Wyomingite'' diopside-leucite-phlogopite lamproite ''Orendite'' diopside-sanidine-phiogopite lamproite ''Madupite'' diopside madupitic lamproite ''Cedricite'' diopside-leucite lamproite ''Mamilite'' leucite-richterite lamproite ''Wolgidite'' diopside-leucite-richterite madupitic lamproite ''Fitzroyite'' leucite-phlogopite lamproite ''Verite'' hyalo-olivine-diopside-phlogopite lamproit ''Juinillite'' olivine-diopside-richterite madupitic lamproite ''Fortunite'' hyalo-enstatite-phlogopite lamproite ''Cancalite'' enstatite-sanidine-phlogopite lamproite Related rock types References
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