Diamond genesis, seismic structure, and evolution of the Kaapvaal-Zimbabwe craton

Steven B. Shirey, Jeffrey W. Harris, Stephen H. Richardson, Matthew J. Fouch, David E. James, Pierre Cartigny, Peter Deines, Fanus Viljoen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

150 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The lithospheric mantle beneath the Kaapvaal-Zimbabwe craton of southern Africa shows variations in seismic P-wave velocity at depths within the diamond stability field that correlate with differences in the composition of diamonds and their syngenetic inclusions. Middle Archean mantle depletion events initiated craton keel formation and early harzburgitic diamond formation. Late Archean accretionary events involving an oceanic lithosphere component stabilized the craton and contributed a younger Archean generation of eclogitic diamonds. Subsequent Proterozoic tectonic and magmatic events altered the composition of the continental lithosphere and added new lherzolitic and eclogitic diamonds to the Archean diamond suite.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1683-1686
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume297
Issue number5587
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Sept 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Multidisciplinary

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Diamond genesis, seismic structure, and evolution of the Kaapvaal-Zimbabwe craton'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this