Search

Confocal Raman imaging of fluid inclusions in garnet porphyroblasts from diamond-grade metamorphic calc-silicate rocks from the Kumdy-Kol microdiamond deposit (Kokchetav Massif, Northern Kazakhstan) reveals that these fluid inclusions consist of almost pure water with different step-daughter phases (e.g., calcite, mica and rare quartz). These fluid inclusions are characterized by negative crystal shape of the host-garnet and they exclusively occur within the core of garnet porphyroblasts. These observations are consistent with their primary origin, most likely at ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic conditions. The euhedral newly formed garnet, different in color and composition, was found to be associated with these fluid inclusions. It is proposed that newly formed garnet and water fluid inclusions appear by reaction between the hydrous fluid and the garnet-host. These fluid inclusions provide an unequivocal record of almost pure H(2)O fluids, indicating water-saturated conditions within subducted continental crust during prograde stage and/or ultrahigh-P metamorphism., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The presence of aragonite inclusions in garnet from diamond-grade metamorphic rocks from the Kokchetav Massif, Northern Kazakhstan was identified for the first time by means of Raman analyses and mapping. Aragonite appears within the inclusions up to 50 μm in size as a single crystal. These inclusions have rounded shape. The grain boundary between the host-garnet is smooth. No cracks occur around the aragonite inclusions. No significant shift in the main aragonite Raman band was measured. These observations indicate that residual pressure within the inclusion is minor. These findings imply either non-UHPM origin of the host garnet or significant plastic deformation of host minerals during retrograde stage. These features should be taken into account for recovery peak metamorphic conditions and modeling of exhumation processes of UHPM complexes., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We have performed petrographic and spectroscopic studies of brown diamonds from an eclogite xenolith from the Udachnaya pipe (Yakutia, Russia). Brown diamonds are randomly intermixed with colorless ones in the rock and often located at the grain boundaries of clinopyroxene and garnet. Brown diamonds can be characterized by a set of defects (H4, N2D and a line at 490.7 nm) which are absent in colorless diamonds. This set of defects is typical for plastically deformed diamonds and indicates that diamonds were likely annealed for a relatively short period after deformation had occurred. Excitation of brown colored zones with a 632.8 nm He-Ne laser produced the typical diamond band plus two additional bands at 1730 cm(-1) and 3350 cm(-1). These spectral features are not genuine Raman bands, and can be attributed to photoluminescence at ∼710 nm (1.75 eV) and ∼802 nm (1.54 eV). No Raman peak corresponding to graphite was observed in regions of brown coloration. Comparison with previous reports of brown diamonds from eclogites showed our eclogitic sample to have a typical structure without signs of apparent deformation. Two mechanisms with regard to diamond deformation are proposed: deformation of eclogite by external forces followed by subsequent recrystallization of silicates or, alternatively, deformation by local stress arising due to decompression and expansion of silicates during ascent of the xenolith to surface conditions., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

For the first time burkeite was observed as a daughter phase in the melt inclusions in olivine by Raman spectroscopy. The olivine comes from sheared lherzolite xenoliths from the Udachnaya-East kimberlite pipe (Yakutia, Russia). This anhydrous sulfate-carbonate mineral (Na(6)(CO(3))(SO(4))(2)) is generally considered to be a characteristic mineral in saline soils or in continental lacustrine evaporite deposits. Recently, however, this mineral was identified in hydrothermal fluids. Our observations indicate that burkeite can also be formed from a mantle-derived melt.

Coesite inclusions occur in a wide range of lithologies and coesite is therefore a powerful ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) indicator. The transformation of coesite to quartz is evidenced by three optically well identifiable characteristics (e.g. palisade textures, radial crack patterns, polycrystalline quartz pseudomorphs). Under overpressure monomineralic coesite (on an optical basis), lacking the above transformation characteristics may survive. Raman micro-spectroscopy was applied on monomineralic coesite inclusions in garnet porphyroblasts from diamond-bearing garnet-clinozoisite-biotite gneisses of the Barchi-Kol area (Kokchetav Massif, Northern Kazakhstan). These coesite inclusions are euhedral and display a characteristic anisotropic hallo. However, Raman maps and separate spectra of these inclusions display shifted bands for coesite and quartz. Microscopically undetectable, quartz shows on the Raman map as a thin shell around coesite inclusion. Shift of the main coesite band allows to estimate their overpressure: coesite inclusions record 0-2.4 GPa in garnet and zircon. The quartz shell remains under lower pressure 0-1.6 GPa. The possible application of coesite and quartz Raman geobarometers for UHP metamorphic rocks is discussed.

Metamorphic diamond is a powerful but frequently debated indicator for ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) conditions. Because of their small size, their optical identification needs confirmation. Characteristics of chemically extracted microdiamonds from Kokchetav, identified by different analytical methods, are used here for unambiguous in situ identification by Raman microspectroscopy. Differences appear in the diamond spectra and the Raman analytical method is explored as a helpful tool in the discrimination between diamond populations from four different UHPM lithologies of Kokchetav. Not considering the graphite-coated diamond, out of the reach of the laser wavelength used here, the comparison of these Kokchetav Raman spectra may provide additional information in other UHPM studies.