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Nd and Sr isotopes in kimberlites and lamproites from Western Australia: an enriched mantle origin

Nature volume 302, pages 400–403 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Diamond-bearing kimberlites and lamproites from the Fitzroy area of the West Kimberley region of Western Australia have isotopic compositions (ɛNd = −7.4 to −15.4, 87Sr/86Sr (I) = 0.7104 to 0.7187) indicating derivation from ancient (> 1,000Myr) highly enriched (high Rb/Sr, Nd/Sm) mantle sources. The Nd and Sr isotopic ratios of the kimberlites overlap those of the lamproites, consistent with the petrological and geochemical gradation between the two groups, and implies a genetic relationship. Mixtures of highly enriched mantle like that reported here with depleted MORB-type mantle can, in principle, account for both the enriched and depleted portions of mantle array. Here we present new Nd and Sr isotopic data for a suite of kimberlites and associated lamproites from the Fitzroy area which indicate that the magmas were derived from extremely enriched (high Rb/Sr, Nd/Sm) mantle and cast doubt on the validity of a primitive chondritic Sm/Nd source for kimberlites. We also present a model which accounts for the apparent clustering of many kimberlites near ɛNd∼0, and for the covariation of Nd and Sr isotopes in oceanic basalts (that is, the mantle array).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

    M. T. McCulloch & D. R. Nelson

  2. Bureau of Mineral Resources, PO Box 378, Canberra City, ACT 2601, Australia

    A. L. Jaques

  3. Geological Survey of Western Australia, 66 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, 6000, Western Australia

    J. D. Lewis

Authors
  1. M. T. McCulloch
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  2. A. L. Jaques
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  3. D. R. Nelson
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  4. J. D. Lewis
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McCulloch, M., Jaques, A., Nelson, D. et al. Nd and Sr isotopes in kimberlites and lamproites from Western Australia: an enriched mantle origin. Nature 302, 400–403 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/302400a0

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