Emplacement of the Argyle diamond deposit into an ancient rift zone triggered by supercontinent breakup

Hugo K. H. Olierook (), Denis Fougerouse, Luc S. Doucet, Yebo Liu, Murray J. Rayner, Martin Danišík, Daniel J. Condon, Brent I. A. McInnes, A. Lynton Jaques, Noreen J. Evans, Bradley J. McDonald, Zheng-Xiang Li, Christopher L. Kirkland, Celia Mayers and Michael T. D. Wingate
Additional contact information
Hugo K. H. Olierook: Curtin University
Denis Fougerouse: Curtin University
Luc S. Doucet: Curtin University
Yebo Liu: Curtin University
Murray J. Rayner: Rio Tinto
Martin Danišík: Curtin University
Daniel J. Condon: British Geological Survey, Keyworth
Brent I. A. McInnes: Curtin University
A. Lynton Jaques: Australian National University
Noreen J. Evans: Curtin University
Bradley J. McDonald: Curtin University
Zheng-Xiang Li: Curtin University
Christopher L. Kirkland: Curtin University
Celia Mayers: Curtin University
Michael T. D. Wingate: Curtin University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Argyle is the world’s largest source of natural diamonds, yet one of only a few economic deposits hosted in a Paleoproterozoic orogen. The geodynamic triggers responsible for its alkaline ultramafic volcanic host are unknown. Here we show, using U-Pb and (U-Th)/He geochronology of detrital apatite and detrital zircon, and U-Pb dating of hydrothermal titanite, that emplacement of the Argyle lamproite is bracketed between 1311 ± 9 Ma and 1257 ± 15 Ma (2σ), older than previously known. To form the Argyle lamproite diatreme complex, emplacement was likely driven by lithospheric extension related to the breakup of the supercontinent Nuna. Extension facilitated production of low-degree partial melts and their migration through transcrustal corridors in the Paleoproterozoic Halls Creek Orogen, a rheologically-weak rift zone adjacent to the Kimberley Craton. Diamondiferous diatreme emplacement during (super)continental breakup may be prevalent but hitherto under-recognized in rift zones at the edges of ancient continental blocks.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40904-8

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