The origin of diamonds, their preservation and transport to the surface have been important issues over the last decades after the acknowledgement that diamonds are xenocrysts in the host kimberlites and after the discovery of new transport media such as lamproites. Different types of diamonds -E-type diamonds, P-type diamonds- and different types of hosts - Eclogites, Peridotites- have been distinguished. Each type corresponds to particular formation criteria. Ecogitic Diamonds are mostly related to subduction processes, whereas more uncertainties remain regarding the formation of Peridotitic Diamonds. Komatiite extraction and subduction of graphite-bearing serpentinites have been proposed as the more likely processes involved in their formation. A typical mantle signature for diamonds implies a thick, cool, reduced lithosphere. The keel-shape model is the most popular. Archaean cratons are therefore the most promising exploration target and area selection will expect to follow the Clifford's Rule. However, the evidence of cratonic areas hidden under younger formations · through seismic profiles and the discovery of diamond structurally trapped outside their stability field, have increased the potential of diamondiferous areas. Preservation of diamonds inside the lithosphere requires that the mantleroot remains insulated against excessive reheating and tectonic reworking. Mantle-root friendly and mantle-root destructive structures are distinguished. Small-size cratons are usually the most promising exploration targets. Transport of diamonds to the surface is dependant on' the same criteria of preservation. Only kimberlites and lamproites have been recognized as efficient transport media. Their ascent to the surface is conditioned by a multitude of parameters, amongst them the nature of the magma, the speed of ascent, the presence of pre-existing structures in the crust and the availability of ground water in the near-surface environment. The origin of kimberlite magma probably lies near the transition zone. Mixtures of depleted asthenospheric · sources and metasomatically enriched and possibly subducted materials are likely to be at the origin of the different kimberlite magmas. Kimberlite magmatism correlates generally in time with global tectonic events, triggered by either plume activity or by subduction processes, depending of the tectonic school of thought. Kimberlite alignments have been interpreted as hotspot tracks, and kimberlite magmas as volatile-rich melts issued from the remaining plume tail. The plume head produces flood-basalts in an adjacent "thinspot" of the lithosphere, generally on the edges of the cratons. Kimberlite and lamproite ascent to the surface are unconditionally influenced by regional structures. Rift structures, ring structures, transform faults, suture zones and deep-seated faults have been mentioned as controlling or accompanying features of kimberlite magmatism. Nearsurface emplacement constraints are better understood and the ultimate shape of the intrusion(s) depends on the nature of the country rocks, the availability of ground water and the near-surface faulting pattern. The recent discovery of "fissure" kimberlites is one of the more important breakthroughs of the last decade. With a better understanding of the processes involved in diamond formation, preservation and of kimberlite emplacement, major diamond discoveries have recently increased on all the continents. Successful diamond exploration requires today an integration of all geophysical, petrologic, geochemical and structural information available. The particular study of the northwestern Australian lamproite and kimberlite fields, the Brazilian kimberlites, the easternNorth American kimberlite fields, the Lac de Gras kimberlite field, the South African rich kimberlite provinces, and the Yakutian kimberlite fields provide concrete examples of the geotectonic controls on primary diamond deposits. Area selection criteria based on the previous models and examples, are expected to yield to many more discoveries in the coming years. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in

No description available.

<p> Kimberlite diatremes from a single genetic source were examined. Macrocryst and groundmass constituents were identified, as well as their alteration products. It was hypothesized that carbon dioxide and water vapour were present at the time of formation. Limestone inclusions and peridotite xenoliths were examined, as well as fabrics within the xenoliths. It was concluded that water is present in the upper mantle. Ilmenite nodules were determined to be phenocrysts, as opposed to xenocrysts. A paragenetic sequence for the kimberlite was resolved. Ilmenite was classified as the best indicator mineral for exploration purposes.</p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

Héritées de l’atmosphère primitive, des anomalies dans les abondances relatives des isotopes du soufre (32S, 33S, 34S et 36S) sont enregistrées dans les sédiments terrestres d’il y a plus de 2,5 milliards d’années (i.e. archéens). Nous évaluons ici la robustesse des isotopes du soufre à tracer le recyclage précoce de croûte océanique et de sédiments, transférés dans le manteau profond ou stockés dans le manteau lithosphérique depuis la mise en place de la subduction. En Sibérie, le manteau lithosphérique a été naturellement échantillonné par l’éruption de la kimberlite d’Udachnaya-Est. Extrêmement bien préservée, riche en Na, K, Cl, S et contenant des reliques de croûte océanique Archéenne, cette kimberlite nous permet de tester : (1) l’hypothèse du recyclage de soufre atmosphérique Archéen dans le manteau lithosphérique et/ou la source de cette kimberlite ; (2) la cohérences entre les méthodes in situ (SIMS dans les minéraux de sulfure) et bulk (extraction chimique du soufre et spectrométrie de masse à source gazeuse) pour les mesures multi-isotopiques du soufre. Nos résultats, complétés par des mesures isotopiques en Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd et plomb (204Pb, 206Pb, 207Pb, 208Pb), montrent que : (1) les sulfates de la kimberlite et des nodules composés de chlorure-carbonate ont une origine magmatique profonde, non-contaminée par les sédiments encaissants, suggérant la présence de domaines oxydés et riches en sulfates dans le manteau ; (2) les mesures isotopiques du soufre par méthode bulk sont cohérentes avec les populations de sulfures observées in situ ; (3) les sulfures des kimberlites salées sont appauvris en 34S par rapport à la valeur chondritique et enregistrent de faibles anomalies isotopiques en soufre ; (4) les péridotites déformées contiennent d’autres sulfures appauvris en 34S, qui eux préservent des anomalies en 33S et 36S héritées de la surface archéenne, malgré un équilibrage isotopique du chronomètre U-Pb lors de l’éruption de la kimberlite / Inherited from the early atmosphere, anomalies in the relative abundances of sulfur isotopes (32S, 33S, 34S and 36S) are recorded in sediments older than 2.5 billion year (i.e. Archean). Here we test the robustness of sulfur isotopes to trace the early recycling of oceanic crust and sediments that may have been transferred to the deep mantle or stored in the lithospheric mantle since the onset of subduction. In Siberia, the lithospheric mantle has been naturally sampled by the Udachnaya-East kimberlite while it was erupting. Because it is extremely well preserved, rich in Na, K, Cl, S and contains remnants of oceanic crust recycled during the Archean, this kimberlite enables us to test : (1) the hypothesis of an early recycling of Archean atmospheric sulfur in the lithospheric mantle and/or the deeper source of the kimberlite; (2) the coherence between in situ (SIMS in sulfide minerals) and bulk methods (chemical extraction of sulfur from powdered rocks, followed by gas source mass-spectrometry) for measuring multiple sulfur isotopes. Our results, combined with measurements of Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd and lead (204Pb, 206Pb, 207Pb, 208Pb) isotopes, show that: (1) sulfates from the Udachnaya-East kimberlite and its nodules composed of chloride-carbonate have a deep, magmatic origin, uncontaminated by host sediments, suggesting the presence of sulfate-rich, oxidized domains in the mantle; (2) measurements of sulfur isotopes by bulk methods are consistent with the sulfide populations observed in situ; (3) sulfides from salty kimberlites are depleted in 34S with respect to the chondritic value and record small anomalies in sulfur isotopes ; (4) sheared peridotites contain another population of sulfides that are depleted in 34S and preserve 33S and 36S anomalies inherited from the Archean surface, despite resetting of the U-Pb chronometer during kimberlite eruption

Thèse (D.Ress.Min.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, programme extensionné à l'Université du Québec à Montréal, 2002. / Bibliogr.: f. 105-109. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

La prédiction des ressources récupérables d'un gisement kimberlitique passe par l'estimation de la loi en taille des diamants commercialisables qu'il contient. Cette estimation repose traditionnellement sur les pierres de plus de 0,5mm, sans tenir compte des petites pierres qui sont de loin les plus abondantes mais sans valeur économique. Le problème soulevé par cette approche est la taille des échantillons: ils doivent être d'autant plus volumineux que les grandes pierres sont rares. Une façon de réduire la taille des échantillons est d'abaisser le seuil de récupération à des pierres non commercialisables. A cette fin, des techniques spécifiques ont été développées (dissolution de la kimberlite à l'acide) pour récupérer toutes les pierres de plus de 75 microns (0,0000018carat). Une procédure itérative a été aussi mise au point pour estimer la loi des pierres commercialisables à partir des petites pierres. La solution proposée repose sur une hypothèse de lognormalité de la taille des pierres, hypothèse pertinente dans la totalité des gisements primaires de diamants étudiés. L'estimation des paramètres lognormaux tient compte du nombre limité des données et de leur biais, dû à la perte inévitable des pierres les plus petites au cours du traitement des échantillons. Elle permet la prise en compte simultanée de différents jeux de données prélevés à différents seuils de récupération correspondant à differents modes d'échantillonnage. Cette procédure met en jeu une représentation graphique comparée des lois expérimentale et simulée, mettant ainsi en évidence la quantité de pierres perdues. / Predicting the recoverable resources in kimberlite requires estimating the size distribution of its valuable stones. This estimation is usually based on stones of size exceeding 0.5mm. More abundant but without commercial value, the other stones are not involved in the estimation process. Such an approach raises a sampling problem. The rarer the large stones, the more bulky the samples. One way to reduce the sample size is to reduce the processing cut-off to recover non-valuable stones. To do this, specific techniques (acid dissolution of kimberlite) have been set up to retrieve all stones above 75 microns (0.0000018 carat). An iterative procedure has also been designed to estimate the size distribution of the valuable stones starting from the small ones. The proposed solution rests on the assumption, found valid in all studied primary deposits, that stone sizes are lognormally distributed. The procedure to estimate the lognormal parameters takes into account the limited number of stones and their lack of representivity owing to an unavoidable loss of the smallest stones during the sample processing. It can be applied to a mixture of several populations of stones recovered at different cut-offs corresponding to different processing techniques. This procedure involves a graphical representation that compares the actual and simulated size distributions, and makes it possible to estimate the quantity of stones lost during the recovery process.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Entrainment and assimilation of xenolithic material during kimberlite ascent is considered to be important in shaping the chemistry of the magma and fuelling magma ascent by driving CO2 exsolution. Previous, but as yet unpublished experimental work from Stellenbosch University has demonstrated that orthopyroxene has a key role in this. Orthopyroxene is a very rare xenocrystic constituent of kimberlite but makes up a considerable fraction of the entrained xenolithic material. The initial study used a natural kimberlite composition (ADF1) doped with a peridotite mineral suite (by weight); 88 % ADF1 5% olivine, 5% orthopyroxene and 2% garnet-spinel intergrowth as a starting composition. The subsequent high PT experiments (1100 to 1300°C and 2.0 to 3.5GPa) established that equilibrium orthopyroxene is stable at 1100°C above 2.5GPa, at 1200°C above 2.5GPa and at 1300°C between 2.0 and 3.5GPa. At lower pressures orthopyroxene is completely digested by the experimental melt by the reaction; Mg2Si2O6 (opx) = Mg2SiO4 (ol) + SiO2 (in liquid). In contrast, clinopyroxene is a common phase in kimberlite and often occurs as more than one generation of crystals. Xenocrystic clinopyroxene is dominated by diopside compositions. However, rare omphacite is sometimes also inherited from an eclogite source. The Omphacite, like orthopyroxene, displays textural evidence of severe disequilibrium and may also contribute to the evolution of kimberlitic melt. Thus, a second study produced experiments on the ADF1 kimberlite material at upper mantle PT conditions (1100 to 1300°C and 2.0 to 4.0GPa) as well as an omphacite doped starting material (ADF1+O). These experiments examine the behaviour of pyroxene in kimberlite magma including the influence this may have on magma buoyancy. Within this PT range omphacitic clinopyroxene breaks-down via complex multipart reactions. At 1100°C and 2.0GPa reaction textures around remnant omphacite suggest that omphacite melts incongruently in a complex reaction similar to: Omp + Melt = Ap + Cr-diop + SiO2-enriched Melt. At 1300°C omphacite melts completely and is perceived to produce peritectic Cr-diopside, calcium-rich olivine, carbonate in the melt as well as enrich the melt in SiO2. The melts produced by both the ADF1+O and ADF1 compositions at 1300°C and 4.0GPa are reduced in SiO2 content and have increased TiO2, Cr2O3, Al2O3, MnO, CaO, K2O and P2O5 compared to their respective starting compositions. However, significantly higher proportions of Ca, Na and Fe observed within the ADF1+O melt is a direct consequence of omphacite melting. The ADF1+O starting composition produced equilibrium orthopyroxene above 1100°C and 4.0GPa as well as at 1300°C above 2.0GPa. At lower pressure the orthopyroxene melts incongruently to form peritectic olivine and more silica-rich melt compositions. This digestion favours CO2 exsolution. The effect of orthopyroxene melting can be seen in the melt compositions produced by the peridotite doped starting material (ADF1+P) of the initial study. At 1300°C and 2.0GPa, ADF1+P produced a siliceous melt (37.0 wt.% SiO2) enriched in Al and alkalis compared to the starting ADF1+P composition. This behaviour is directly attributed to xenocrystic orthopyroxene melting at high temperature. In contrast, at the same PT the original kimberlite (ADF1) composition produces a melt with 28.9 wt.% SiO2 and high Ca and Mg contents. Overall, with an increase in pressure the melts become enriched in alkalis and Al2O3 as a direct result of xenocrystic pyroxene melting. In addition, increased pressure allows for a greater solubility of CO2 within the melt. This results in a lower SiO2 melt content and the increased stabilization of equilibrium silica-rich mineral phases (i.e. olivine and equilibrium orthopyroxene). Within the peridotite doped static system (unpublished) the mineral separates with an average crystal size of 115μm ±10μm were all effectively digested in less than 48hours. Similarly, the omphacite doped experiments consumed the 150μm (±10μm) xenocrysts in under 24 hours. Thus, it is suggested that xenocrystic pyroxene is unstable in these experimental kimberlitic melt compositions and is likely to be efficiently assimilated in less than 24 hours. These experimental melts most likely resemble those of natural systems under upper mantle PT conditions. Therefore, pyroxene melting increases the silica content of the melt which in turn drives CO2 exsolution and ascent. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Meevoering en assimilasie van xenolitiese materiaal gedurenende kimberliet bestyging is beskou as belangrik in verband met die vorming van die chemie van die magma, en bevorder magma bestyging deur die aandrywing van CO2 ontmenging. Vorige, maar ongepubliseerde eksperimentele werk vanaf Stellenbosch Universiteit het gedemonstreer dat ortopirokseen ‘n sleutelrol hierin het, omrede ortopirokseen ‘n baie skaars xenokristiese bestanddeel van kimberliet is maar ‘n aansienlike fraksie van die meevoerde xenolitiese materiaal moet opmaak. Hierdie studie het ‘n natuurlike primere kimberliet komposisie (ADFI) gedoop met ‘n peridotiet mineraal reeks (per gewig); 88 % ADF1 5% olivien, 5% ortopirokseen en 2% granaat-spinel ingroeiing as begin komposisie gebruik. Die daaropvolgende hoë DT eksperimente (1100 tot 1300°C en 2.0 tot 3.5GPa) het vasgestel dat ewewigsortopirokseen stabiel is teen 1100°C bo 2.5GPa, 1200°C bo 2.5GPa en teen 1300°C vanaf 2.0 tot 3.5Gpa. Teen laer druk word ortopirokseen geheel verteer deur die eksperimentele smelting volgens die reaksie Mg2Si2O6 (opx) = Mg2SiO4 (ol) + SiO2 (in vloeistof). In kontras hiermee is clinopirokseen algemeen in kiemberliet en kom dikwels voor as meer as een generasie se kristalle. Diopsiet komposisies domineer xenokristiese klinopirokseen. Seldsame omfasiet is tog somtyds ook geërf vanaf ‘n eklogiet bron. Die omfasiet, soos ortopirokseen, vertoon teksturuele bewys van ernstige disekwilibrium en mag ook bydra tot die evolusie van kimberlitiese smelt. Dus was daar addisionele eksperimente uitgevoer op die ADF1 kimberliet material teen hoër mantel DT kondisies (1100 tot 1300°C en 2.0 tot 4.0GPa), asook ‘n begin materiaal gedoop met omfasiet (ADF1+O). Hierdie eksperimente ondersoek die gedrag van pirokseen in kiemberliet magma, asook die invloed wat dit sal hê op die dryfvermoë van die magma. Binne hierdie DT reeks breek omfasitiese klinopirokseen af via komplekse multideel reaksie prosesse. Teen 1100°C en 2.0Gpa stel reaksie teksture rondom die oorblywende omfasiet voor dat omfasiet ongelykvormig smelt deur ‘n komplekse reaksie soortgelyk aan: Omp + Smelt = Ap + Cr-diop + SiO2-verrykde Smelt. Teen 1300°C smelt omfasiet volkome en is waargeneem om peritektiese Cr-diopsiet, kalsiumryke olivien en kalsiet te produseer, sowel as dat dit die smelt verryk in SiO2. Die smeltings geprodiseer deur die ADF1+O en ADF1 massa komposisies teen 1300°C en 4.0GPa is verlaag in SiO2 inhoud en bevat verhoogde TiO2, Cr2O3, Al2O3, MnO, CaO, K2O en P2O5 in vergelyking met die onderskeie begin komposisies. Aansienlike hoër proporsies van Ca, Na en Fe is egter waargeneem in die ADF1+O smelt en is ‘n direkte gevolg van die smelting van omfasiet. Die ADF1+O begin samestelling het ewewigsortopirokseen bo 1100°C en 4.0Gpa geproduseer en massa teen 1300°C en 2.0 tot 4.0GPa. Teen laer druk smelt hierdie pirokseen inkongruent om peritektiese olivien en meer silika-ryke smelt samestellings te vorm, en ontmeng CO2. Die effek van ortopirokseen smelting kan aanskou word in die smelt samestellings wat produseer is deur die begin materiaal wat gedoop is in peridotiet (ADF1+P), in die oorspronklike studie. Teen 1300°C en 2.0GPa het ADF1+P ‘n silikahoudende smelt (37.0 wt.% SiO2) produseer wat verryk is in Al en alkalies in vergelyking met die ADF1+P massa samestelling. Hierdie gedrag is direk toegeskryf aan die xenokristiese ortopirokseen wat smelt teen hoë temperatuur. In kontras hiermee, teen dieselfde DT kondisies produseer die oorspronklike kiemberliet (ADF1) massa ‘n smelt met 28.86 gewigspersentasie SiO2 en hoë Ca en Mg inhoud. In die algeheel word die smeltings verryk in alkalies en Al2O3 teen verhoogde druk as ‘n derekte gevolg van xenokristiese pirokseen smelting. Verder laat verhoogde druk toe vir hoër oplosbaarheid van CO2 in die smelt, wat lei tot laer SiO2 inhoud en ‘n toename in stabilisering van ewewigs silika-ryke mineraal fases (dws. olivien en ewewigsortopirokseen). In die peridotiet gedoopde statiese sisteem (ongepubliseerd), was die mineraal skeiding met ‘n gemiddelde kristal grootte van 115μm ±10μm almal effektief verteer in minder as 48 ure. Soortgelyk hieraan het die omfasiet gedoopde eksperimente die 150μm (±10μm) sade onder 24 ure verteer. Dus stel dit voor dat xenokristiese pirokseen in naatuurlike sisteme onstabiel is in kiemberlietiese smelt samestellings en sal waarskynlik geassimileer wees in miner as 24 ure en ‘n meer silica-ryke kiemberlietiese smelt samestelling produseer terwyl dit CO2, ontmenging en bestyging aandryf.

Kimberlite hosts two populations of olivine that are distinguished on the basis of grain size and morphology; the populations are commonly described genetically as xenocrysts and phenocrysts. Recent studies of zoning patterns in kimberlitic olivine phenocrysts have cast doubt on the actual origins of the smaller olivine crystals. Here, we elucidate the nature and origins of the textural and chemical zonation that characterize both populations of olivine. Specifically, we show that both olivine-I and olivine-II feature chemically distinct overgrowths resulting from magmatic crystallization on pre-existing olivine xenocrysts. These results suggest that the total volume of olivine crystallized during transport is substantially lower (≤5%) than commonly assumed (e.g. ~25%), and that crystallization is dominantly heterogeneous. This reduces estimates of the Mg# in primitive kimberlite melt to more closely reconcile with measured phenocryst compositions. Several additional textures are observed in olivine, and include: sealed cracks, healed cracks, phases trapping in cracks, rounded grains, overgrowths and phase trapping in overgrowths. These features record processes that operate in kimberlite during ascent, and from these features we create a summary model for kimberlite ascent: • Olivine is incorporated into kimberlitic melts at great depths as peridotitic mantle xenoliths. • Shortly after the incorporation of these xenocrysts the tensile strength of the crystals within xenoliths is reached at a minimum of 20 km from its source. Disaggregation of mantle xenoliths producing xenocrysts is facilitated by expansion of the minerals within the xenoliths. • The void space produced by the failure of the crystals is filled with melt and crystals consisting of primary carbonate (high-Sr), chromite and spinel crystals. The carbonate later crystallizes to produce sealed fractures. • Subsequent decompression causes cracks that are smaller than the sealed cracks and are preserved as healed cracks that crosscut sealed cracks. • Mechanical rounding of the xenocrysts post-dates, and/or occurs contemporaneously with decompression events that cause cracking. • Saturation of olivine produces rounded overgrowths on large xenocrysts, euhedral overgrowths on smaller xenocrysts, and a volumetrically minor population of olivine phenocrysts. Olivine growth traps fluid, solid and melt inclusions. Calculations based on these relationships suggest that the melt saturates with olivine at a maximum depth of 20 km and a minimum depth of 7 km.

Kimberlite hosts two populations of olivine that are distinguished on the basis of grain size and morphology; the populations are commonly described genetically as xenocrysts and phenocrysts. Recent studies of zoning patterns in kimberlitic olivine phenocrysts have cast doubt on the actual origins of the smaller olivine crystals. Here, we elucidate the nature and origins of the textural and chemical zonation that characterize both populations of olivine. Specifically, we show that both olivine-I and olivine-II feature chemically distinct overgrowths resulting from magmatic crystallization on pre-existing olivine xenocrysts. These results suggest that the total volume of olivine crystallized during transport is substantially lower (≤5%) than commonly assumed (e.g. ~25%), and that crystallization is dominantly heterogeneous. This reduces estimates of the Mg# in primitive kimberlite melt to more closely reconcile with measured phenocryst compositions. Several additional textures are observed in olivine, and include: sealed cracks, healed cracks, phases trapping in cracks, rounded grains, overgrowths and phase trapping in overgrowths. These features record processes that operate in kimberlite during ascent, and from these features we create a summary model for kimberlite ascent: • Olivine is incorporated into kimberlitic melts at great depths as peridotitic mantle xenoliths. • Shortly after the incorporation of these xenocrysts the tensile strength of the crystals within xenoliths is reached at a minimum of 20 km from its source. Disaggregation of mantle xenoliths producing xenocrysts is facilitated by expansion of the minerals within the xenoliths. • The void space produced by the failure of the crystals is filled with melt and crystals consisting of primary carbonate (high-Sr), chromite and spinel crystals. The carbonate later crystallizes to produce sealed fractures. • Subsequent decompression causes cracks that are smaller than the sealed cracks and are preserved as healed cracks that crosscut sealed cracks. • Mechanical rounding of the xenocrysts post-dates, and/or occurs contemporaneously with decompression events that cause cracking. • Saturation of olivine produces rounded overgrowths on large xenocrysts, euhedral overgrowths on smaller xenocrysts, and a volumetrically minor population of olivine phenocrysts. Olivine growth traps fluid, solid and melt inclusions. Calculations based on these relationships suggest that the melt saturates with olivine at a maximum depth of 20 km and a minimum depth of 7 km.

Volatiles are fundamental to many aspects of kimberlite magmatism. However, the volatile compositions and concentrations are poorly defined. Enrichment of H in kimberlitic olivines, many of which are xenocrysts, suggests high water content, but the extent to which H exchanges between these xenocrysts and kimberlite magmas remains unclear. This study investigates zonation of H in kimberlite-hosted xenolith and macrocrystic olivines using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to constrain the extent of re-equilibration. Data show that, depending on locality, xenolith olivines exhibit either no H-zonation, or substantial H-depletion in their rims. Macrocrysts feature similar trends to xenolith olivines from the same intrusion. In terms of the rim:core ratio of H, strongly zoned olivines average ~0.5, whereas poorly zoned olivines average at ~0.9 (macrocrysts) or 1.0 (xenolith olivines). Locality-specific H-zonation could result from different magmatic thermal regimes, water concentrations, or ascent durations. If the magmas that contained weakly zoned olivines were anhydrous, their restricted zoning requires ascent durations (< 20 min at 1100 °C) that are considerably shorter than published estimates (~1-24 hr at 1100 °C). These findings suggest that elevated magmatic water concentrations minimized loss of H from olivine in these kimberlites, showing that non-equilibrated xenocrysts could indirectly record high water concentrations in the form of weak H-zonation. Strong H-depletion patterns in olivines from other kimberlites may reflect lower initial magmatic water concentrations, or loss of fluid to country rocks. Future studies could compare H-zonation to temperature and ascent rate estimates, and field relationships to better elucidate the causes of locality-specific H-zonation. An apparent correlation between diamond grade and H-zonation warrants further investigation. / This thesis includes an Electronic Appendix, available at http://dalspace.library.dal.ca