Magnetomineralogy of Botswana Kimberlites
V. I. Maksimochkina, V. I. Trukhina, Yu. A. Mininaa, V. K. Garaninb,
A. V. Bovkunb, and S. M. Anashkinb
a Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia
b Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia
Received February 20, 2012
AbstractThe magnetic properties and mineralogy of kimberlites from four pipes (BK53, BK56, AK08, and
AK06) in Botswana are studied. It is shown that magnetic characteristics of the kimberlites as well as chemical
and phase compositions of the oxides from kimberlite groundmass reflect the difference in evolution of kim-
berlite melts and formation conditions of these bodies and are associated with the grade of these diamonif-
erous bodies. The relatively low-grade (0.22 carats per ton) kimberlites from the southern lobe of the AK06
pipe contain picrochromites with high chrome and low titanium contents (up to 49.4 wt % Cr2O3 with 3.9 wt
% TiO2), which occur in the paramagnetic state at a temperature of T> 180
C. Their magnetic properties
above room temperature are determined by titanomagnetites with the Curie point at +370 to + 500
C, which
were formed at the later stages of crystallization as a result of the gradual decline in the PT-parameters. Most
spinelides in the Botswana kimberlites from the low-grade pipes (below 0.07 carats per ton) were crystallized
at higher PT-parameters than in the southern lobe of pipe AK06, in an environment with highly active tita-
nium. The chromspinelides that were segregated previously turned out to be unstable, which led to the for-
mation of magnesianchrome and magnesian ulvospinels (15.929.7 wt % TiO2; 12.822.8 wt % MgO; 0
11.3 wt % Cr2O3; and 1.212.4 wt % Al2O3) with Curie points TC = 50 to 80
C. These conditions were
unfavorable for preservation of chrome-spinelides and diamonds. At lower PT-parameters, a small amount
of finely dispersed magnetite with a single-domain and pseudo-single domain structure was formed.
DOI: 10.1134/S1069351313020043
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