The University of British Columbia

Project Title:Diamonds of the Jericho kimberlite (N. Slave craton, Canada) and their mineral inclusions.

Project Description: The morphology, growth and etching features of the diamonds are studied using optical, SEM, fluorescence and cathodoluminescence microscopy. Infrared spectroscopy will evaluate the concentrations of nitrogen and hydrogen impurity in diamond, as well as the aggregation state of nitrogen. These measurements will be used to quantitatively estimate the time of mantle "thermal exposure" of diamonds. Mineralogy of diamond inclusions is studied on extracted grains and directly within the polished diamond slab using an electron microprobe. Evolution of P, T and fO2 and extensive parameters of the mantle during diamond growth will be analyzed. Carbon isotopic analysis of the diamonds, combined with the study of mineral inclusions, will determine isotopic signatures and the carbon sources for different types of diamonds (peridotitic/eclogitic/websteritic/lower mantle)