Creating database of diamond dissolution experiments

Diamonds originate deep in the Earth’s mantle since billions of years ago accumulating information about the Earth’s evolution. Diamonds reach the surface of the Earth inside deep magmas kimberlites and lamproites quickly rising from depths > 200 km. During ascent diamonds react with kimberlite magma and develop various dissolution features. Crystal morphology and surface textures of natural diamonds provide information about the conditions and composition of kimberlite magmas, the most enigmatic magmas we know. Many experimental studies investigated diamond dissolution kinetics, and the origin of diamond surface textures. The proposed project will create an open database of experimental data on diamond dissolution in a format accessible for geologists, physicists and chemists working with diamonds. It will integrate all existing data on diamond dissolution kinetics into an open-access user-friendly software for calculating diamond weight (grade) loss during kimberlite ascent for various kimberlite compositions and pressure-temperature ascent paths. This interdisciplinary project will use computer science expertise at Penn State University with the experimental results accumulated by Prof. Fedortchouk’s group at Dalhousie University. The project will also contribute to needs of Canada’s $3G/yr industry by addressing diamond survivability during the kimberlitic ascent, which affects the economic viability of kimberlite deposits.

Faculty Supervisor:

Yana Fedortchouk

Student:

Partner:

Pennsylvania State University

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Mining; Natural Resources

University:

Dalhousie University

Program: