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The Earths Diamonds
This document summarizes where diamonds originate from within the Earth. Diamonds form deep in the continental lithosphere, between 130-200 km below the surface. Over billions of years, volcanic pipes called kimberlites can carry diamonds from these depths to the surface. By studying the geology and structure of the continental lithosphere, as well as samples from kimberlites and indicator minerals, geologists can determine promising diamond-bearing regions to prospect for diamonds across deserts and forests around the world.
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The Earths Diamonds
- 1. THE EARTH’S DIAMONDS DanielApter 9D Top diamond – link to hyperlink page Bottom diamond – link to “the science” page KEY:
- 2. KEY POINTS Today Iwant to tell you how we find diamond target areas in the earth. It is essentially a geological story. I will show,with graphics, where we find Diamonds and where in the earth they come from
- 3. The Earth’s Evolution CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE (BLUESLITHERS) DIAMONDS ORIGINATE IN THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE These pictures show the earth at different points of development over billions of years
- 4. The Earth: Scalesof DEPTH (Km) The Earth’s CRUST and MANTLE is ~2850 Km thick/deep (excluding the CORE). Comprises LITHOSPHERE (5%) and Asthenosphere. (95%) We will focus on the CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE (BLUE SLITHERS) only generally about 200-300 Km deep.
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- 6. graphite Asthenosphere Continental Lithosphere Old cratonic crustOceaniccrust ~130 km ~200+ km k’lite Target region kimberlite ~40 km Oceanic Lithosphere The Earth : Section of the upper 200-300 Km HYPER LINK PAGE
- 7. The Earth :Section of the upper 400+ Km ~130 km ~40 km ~200+ km ~300 km ~400+ km
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- 9. Diamond Bearing Lithosphere 1mm garnet diamond
- 10. KIMBERLITE VOLCANO (PIPE) DEPTH 0km ~1 Km ~2 Km This is the pipe of a volcano, which shows the different layers of a volcano. Continue to next page
- 11. KIMBERLITE VOLCANO Volcano's like this pushthe diamonds up to the surface from deep below the earth
- 12. LIFE IN THECRATER 80 million years ago After many years volcano's become extinct. This picture depicts what life in an extinct volcano 80 million years ago would be like
- 13. Kimberlite Indicator Minerals garnet ilmenite spinel clinopyroxene 1mm Of all these stone’s only the garnets are valuable
- 14. Diamond Prospecting: …from DRY DESERTS…. The Sahara Desert We can find diamonds all over the world.
- 15. …to HUMID FORESTSTheGabon Forest
- 16. THE SCIENCE temperature depth 130km ~200km Target region Lithosphere Asthenosphere Mainlycoal, the pressure not high enough. This is were the diamonds are found
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- 18. BOTTOMLINE With all thisinformation we know have… The power to know … more about our Earth, and where the diamonds are!