Sublithospheric diamond ages and the supercontinent cycle

Suzette Timmerman (), Thomas Stachel, Janne M. Koornneef, Karen V. Smit, Rikke Harlou, Geoff M. Nowell, Andrew R. Thomson, Simon C. Kohn, Joshua H. F. L. Davies, Gareth R. Davies, Mandy Y. Krebs, Qiwei Zhang, Sarah E. M. Milne, Jeffrey W. Harris, Felix Kaminsky, Dmitry Zedgenizov, Galina Bulanova, Chris B. Smith, Izaac Cabral Neto, Francisco V. Silveira, Antony D. Burnham, Fabrizio Nestola, Steven B. Shirey, Michael J. Walter, Andrew Steele and D. Graham Pearson
Additional contact information
Suzette Timmerman: University of Alberta
Thomas Stachel: University of Alberta
Janne M. Koornneef: Vrije Universiteit
Karen V. Smit: University of Witwatersrand
Rikke Harlou: University of Durham
Geoff M. Nowell: University of Durham
Andrew R. Thomson: University College London
Simon C. Kohn: University of Bristol
Joshua H. F. L. Davies: Université du Québec à Montréal
Gareth R. Davies: Vrije Universiteit
Mandy Y. Krebs: University of Alberta
Qiwei Zhang: University of Alberta
Sarah E. M. Milne: University of Alberta
Jeffrey W. Harris: University of Glasgow
Felix Kaminsky: Russian Academy of Sciences
Dmitry Zedgenizov: Russian Academy of Sciences
Galina Bulanova: University of Bristol
Chris B. Smith: University of Bristol
Izaac Cabral Neto: CPRM/SGB, Geological Survey of Brazil
Francisco V. Silveira: CPRM/SGB, Geological Survey of Brazil
Antony D. Burnham: Australian National University
Fabrizio Nestola: Department of Geosciences, University of Padua
Steven B. Shirey: Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science
Michael J. Walter: Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science
Andrew Steele: Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science
D. Graham Pearson: University of Alberta

Nature, 2023, vol. 623, issue 7988, 752-756

Abstract: Abstract Subduction related to the ancient supercontinent cycle is poorly constrained by mantle samples. Sublithospheric diamond crystallization records the release of melts from subducting oceanic lithosphere at 300–700 km depths1,2 and is especially suited to tracking the timing and effects of deep mantle processes on supercontinents. Here we show that four isotope systems (Rb–Sr, Sm–Nd, U–Pb and Re–Os) applied to Fe-sulfide and CaSiO3 inclusions within 13 sublithospheric diamonds from Juína (Brazil) and Kankan (Guinea) give broadly overlapping crystallization ages from around 450 to 650 million years ago. The intracratonic location of the diamond deposits on Gondwana and the ages, initial isotopic ratios, and trace element content of the inclusions indicate formation from a peri-Gondwanan subduction system. Preservation of these Neoproterozoic–Palaeozoic sublithospheric diamonds beneath Gondwana until its Cretaceous breakup, coupled with majorite geobarometry3,4, suggests that they accreted to and were retained in the lithospheric keel for more than 300 Myr during supercontinent migration. We propose that this process of lithosphere growth—with diamonds attached to the supercontinent keel by the diapiric uprise of depleted buoyant material and pieces of slab crust—could have enhanced supercontinent stability.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06662-9

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