Diamond Accessory Minerals in the Rassolninskoe
and Volynka Deposits (Perm Oblast, Russia)

A. B. Makeev*, B. M. Osovetskii**, E. N. Cherepanov**, and V. A. Naumov**

* Institute of Geology, Komi Research Center, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN),
ul. Pervomaiskaya 54, Syktyvkar, 167610 Russia
** Perm’ State University, ul. Genkelya 5, Perm’, 614000 Russia

Received May 27, 1999

Abstract—Crystallographic and geochemical features of the platinum group minerals (PGM), gold, garnet,
and chromespinellids–diamond accessory minerals from the Rassolninskoe and Volynka bedrock xenoeffusive
(visherite) diamond-bearing deposits are characterized. The scanning electronic microscope JSM-6400 with the
energy-dispersing adapter Link ISIS-300 was used for the research. The PGM and gold crystallomorphology
and composition were characterized for the first time. The following features of accessory minerals were
revealed: perfect crystallographic morphology (chromespinellids, isoferroplatinum, and osmium), primary
xenomorphic crystal habit (ilmenite and gold), and traces of mantle etching and solution (resorbed surfaces of
andradite-knorringite-pyrope and chrome-spinellids). Compositions of the major part of garnets and
chromespinellids correspond to ultrabasic and eclogite diamond assemblages of the diamond-pyrope facies.
The majority of grains of accessory minerals and gold do not have evidences of mechanical wear and prolonged
presence in alluvial flow. This testifies to their close occurrence in proximity to their bedrock source. It is pos-
sible that visherites possessing cutting contacts with country sedimentary rocks served as a source-carrier of
diamonds and their accessory minerals derived from depths. It is also probable that some of the studied minerals
were formed in diamond-bearing rocks in the process of their hydrothermal-metasomatic transformation (gold,
monazite, rutile, anatase, pyrite, marcasite, and hoethite). Taking into account the prospecting for diamond pri-
mary sources carried out in the Urals and Timans, the obtained results can be of interest.

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