Mikhail, S., Crosby, J. C., Stuart, F. M. , DiNicola, L. and Abernethy, F. A.J. (2019) A secretive mechanical exchange between mantle and crustal volatiles revealed by helium isotopes in 13C-depleted diamonds. Geochemical Perspectives Letters, 11, pp. 39-43. (doi: 10.7185/geochemlet.1923)
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Abstract
Fluid inclusions trapped in fast-growing diamonds provide a unique opportunity to examine the origin of diamonds, and the conditions under which they formed. Eclogitic to websteritic diamondites from southern Africa show 13C-depletion and 15N-enrichment relative to mantle values (δ13C = -4.3 to -22.2 ‰ and δ15N = -4.9 to +23.2 ‰). In contrast the 3He/4He of the trapped fluids have a strong mantle signature, one sample has the highest value so far recorded for African diamonds (8.5 ± 0.4 Ra). We find no evidence for deep mantle He in these diamondites, or indeed in any diamonds from southern Africa. A correlation between 3He/4He ratios and 3He concentration suggests that the low 3He/4He are largely the result of ingrowth of radiogenic 4He in the trapped fluids since diamond formation. The He-C-N isotope systematics can be best described by mixing between fluid released from subducted altered oceanic crust and mantle volatiles. The high 3He/4He of low δ13C diamondites reflects the high 3He concentration in the mantle fluids relative to the slab-derived fluids. The presence of post-crystallisation 4He in the fluids means that all 3He/4He are minima, which in turn implies that the slab-derived carbon has a sedimentary organic origin. In short, although carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data show strong evidence for crustal sources for diamond-formation, helium isotopes reveal an unambiguous mantle component hidden within a strongly 13C-depleted system.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Additional Information: | SM acknowledges support from the National Environmental Research Council (grant no. NE/PO12167/1). |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Di Nicola, Dr Luigia and Stuart, Professor Fin |
Authors: | Mikhail, S., Crosby, J. C., Stuart, F. M., DiNicola, L., and Abernethy, F. A.J. |
College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre |
Journal Name: | Geochemical Perspectives Letters |
Publisher: | European Association of Geochemistry |
ISSN: | 2410-339X |
ISSN (Online): | 2410-3403 |
Published Online: | 10 October 2019 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2019 The Authors |
First Published: | First published in Geochemical Perspectives Letters 11: 39-43 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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