Helium in diamonds unravels over a billion years of craton metasomatism

Yaakov Weiss (), Yael Kiro, Cornelia Class, Gisela Winckler, Jeff W. Harris and Steven L. Goldstein
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Yaakov Weiss: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Yael Kiro: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
Cornelia Class: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
Gisela Winckler: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
Jeff W. Harris: University of Glasgow
Steven L. Goldstein: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Chemical events involving deep carbon- and water-rich fluids impact the continental lithosphere over its history. Diamonds are a by-product of such episodic fluid infiltrations, and entrapment of these fluids as microinclusions in lithospheric diamonds provide unique opportunities to investigate their nature. However, until now, direct constraints on the timing of such events have not been available. Here we report three alteration events in the southwest Kaapvaal lithosphere using U-Th-He geochronology of fluid-bearing diamonds, and constrain the upper limit of He diffusivity (to D ≈ 1.8 × 10−19 cm2 s−1), thus providing a means to directly place both upper and lower age limits on these alteration episodes. The youngest, during the Cretaceous, involved highly saline fluids, indicating a relationship with late-Mesozoic kimberlite eruptions. Remnants of two preceding events, by a Paleozoic silicic fluid and a Proterozoic carbonatitic fluid, are also encapsulated in Kaapvaal diamonds and are likely coeval with major surface tectonic events (e.g. the Damara and Namaqua–Natal orogenies).

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22860-3

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