Diamond Provenance Studies from 40Ar/39Ar Laser-Probe Dating of Clinopyroxene Inclusions
There are numerous detrital diamond deposits worldwide with uncertain or disputed links to known primary kimberlite/lamproite sources. In this study, we utilise 40Ar/39Ar dating of clinopyroxene inclusions in diamonds as a provenance tool applied to the mega-placer deposits along the West Coast of southern Africa. These data demonstrate that most West Coast diamonds originated known Cretaceous kimberlites on the Kaapvaal craton with negligible input from proximal Permian glacial deposits._x000D_ AnEXTENDED ABSTRACTis available for download. A full-length paper was notprepared for this presentation.