KIMBERLITE

Introduction
Kimberlite is defined as an mantle derived, potassic ultramafic intrusive igneous rock which
may carry diamond xenocrystals. It was originally described as a mica peridotite which contains
both mantle derived cognate and xenolithic inclusions. Kimberlite was named after Lord Kimberley
(Colonial Secretary in South Africa) by H.C. Lewis in 1873.
Mineralogy & Petrography
Essential mInerals:
Olivine, pyroxenes, and mica constitute the essential minerals. Olivine dominates the others
in abundance. The olivine composition may range from forsterite to monticellite. Pyroxenes may
either be orthorhombic: enstatite to ferrosilite or monoclinic: chrome diopside in composition. Mica
may be biotite to phlogophite in composition. The essential minerals typically occur as anhedral
phenocrystals and often altered by metasomatic processes: olivine to serpentine or talc,
carbonitization magnesite or calcite.
Accesssory minerals:
Anhedral phenocrystal picroilmenite, chrome spinel, Mg garnet, perovskite, ilmenite, garnet,
and apatite constitute the common matrix minerals. Diamond occurs as a xenocrystal mineral.
Petrography
The dominant texture is inequigranular anhedral prophyritic texture. Xenoliths of dunite,
peridotite, pyroxenite, eclogite, and crustal fragments have been observed in kimberlites. Chromite,
V-Ti spinels, Mg-Fe spinels may occur in essential quantities.
Mode of Occurence
Kimberlite generally occurs as a carrot shaped vertical intrusion termed as pipe or diatreme
and as tabular dykes, rarely as a sill. The kimberlite diatreme consists of a tapered basal root zone
in the subsurface which gradually widens towards the surface and forms a crater like body on the
surface. Their vertical extent is variable. The surface crater is composed of epiclastics and
pyroclastic fragments. The contact aureoles are poor or absent.
Association and Tectonic Settings
Kimberlites mainly occur in Proterozoic cratons with thick overlying continental crust (> 2.4
Ga in age). Cratonized regions which act as a focus for kimberlite diatremes are termed as
kimberlite provinces which is composed of several smaller kimberlite fields. Kimberlites within a
field are genetically related to one another with similar or differing intrusive ages. The diameter of a
typical kimberlite field ranges from 40 to 50 km. The number of kimberlite bodies varies from field
to field. A number of kimberlite pipes which occur close to each other forms a cluster in a field.
Kimberlites are generally associated with continental intraplate magmatism associated with
major lineaments or fault zones which dissect the craton. Reactivation of major zones or weakness
in the deeper cratonic lithosphere controls the emplacement of kimberlite.

Classification of Kimberlites
Kimberlites have been classsified based on mineralogy, mineral facies, petrography, and
outcrop appearance.
Skinner & Clement's Scheme (1984)
This scheme used accessory or matrix mineralogy to classify the kimberlite as: diopside
kimberlite, serpentine kimberlite, and others.
Wagner's Scheme (1914)
Wagner classified kimberlites into two types based primarily on mineralogy and texture:
BASALTIC KIMBERLITE with less than 5% mica and LAMPROPHYRIC KIMBERLITE with more
than 50% mica. The names do not suggest genetic association or relation. Lamprophyric
kimberlites were further described as those with diopside and those deficient in diopside.
Smith et al.,Scheme(1985)
Kimberlites were divided into Group I and Group II kimberlites based on petrography and
modal mineralogy. GROUP I KIMBERLITES are mica poor and are composed of olivine,
phlogophite, apatite, monticellite, calcite, serpentine and minor ilmenite, with abundant matrix
spinels and perovskite. GROUP II KIMBERLITES are mica rich and are composed of phlogophite,
minor diopsdie and apatite phenocrysts. Thier matrix is made of phlogophite, diopsdie, and leucite;
monticellite and Mg-ilmenite are typically absent. Group II kimberlites are rich in K2O.
Dawson's Scheme (1971)
Dawson used texture, mineralogy, and genesis of kimberlites to propose the following
types: CRATER FACIES KIMBERLITE composed of explosive products of kimberlite, subdivided
into lava, epiclastic and pyroclastic facies. DIATREME FACIES KIMBERLITE composed of
fragmental tuff and agglomeratic rocks cemented by massive magmatic kimberlite. This type was
further subdivided into tuffisitic kimberlites and tuffisitic kimberlite breccias. HYPABYSSAL FACIES

KIMBERLITE composed of massive kimberlite with magmatic petrography which occur in the
deeper portion of diatremes. This type was divided into kimberlite and kimberlite breccias.
Mitchell's Scheme (1970)
Mitchell classified kimberlites based on their petrography and mineralogy as: kimberlite
(equivalent to basaltic kimberlite); micaceous kimberlite (equivalent to lamprophyric kimberlite);
and calcareous kimberlite (with primary magmatic calcite).
Outcrop Character of Kimberlites and Indicator Minerals
Kimberlites exposed on the surface is weathered. The outcrop colour of weathered
kimberlite appears to be 'yellow' in colour and is described as 'yellow ground'. Exposed fresh
outcrops of kimberlite (below the weathering zone), are blue to bluish grey in colour, and are called
as 'blue ground'. Kimberlites are eroded by streams. Location of kimberlites may be aided by
identifying and locating 'kimberlite indicator (accessory) minerals' such as: high Mg olivine, chrome
diopside, picroilmenite, pyrope garnet and eclogitic garnet, and diamond in stream sediment
samples. Other indicators include: high Mg-chromite, PGE, ilmenite, spinel, and monticellite. The
compositions of the indicators are compared to those from recognized and proven kimberlite fields.
Economic Importance
Micro and macrocrystal diamonds constitute the main economic mineral in kimberlites. Only
those kimberlite melts which originate at or below the diamond stability field (150 to 200km) in the
mantle may contain diamonds. Diamonds are co-genetic with other kimebrlite minerals. The type of
diamond may be 'P' type or peridotitic diamond from a peridotite source or 'E' type diamond or
eclogitic diamond from an eclogite source.