Diamonds of Siberia: Photographic Evidence for Their Origin

By Z.V. Spetsius and L.A. Taylor, 378 pp. hardbound, ISBN 978-0-9795835-0-6.

TheDiamonds of Siberia: Photographic Evidence for Their Origin contains about 300 color photographs of natural diamonds and their host rocks, carefully culled from the extensive files of the authors, each a recognized expert in the science of the origin of diamonds. But, this is not just another “Picture Book.” The photos are placed within the perspective of the science of their formation, with over a third of the book being devoted to accompanying text. Therein is reviewed most of the significant investigations of Yakutian diamonds and their host-mantle rocks, typically from an academic view-point. This is put into a perspective relating our understanding of the Earth’s Mantle, almost 80 volume%, but of which we have insufficient samples and knowledge.

An extensive bibliography of relevant research, centered on Yakutian diamonds and their host rocks is also included. This brings to the forefront many previously little-known or appreciated articles in Russian Journals. In addition, included in the appendix of an article from Chemie der Erde, Geochemistry (2004) by co-authors L. A. Taylor and M. Anand, titled “Diamonds: Time Capsules for the Siberian Mantle”.

Table of Contents

Preface
Chapter 1. Introduction to Kimberlite
1.1 Geography of Yakutian Diamond Locales

Chapter 2. Diamonds
2.1 Diamond Characteristics
2.2 Crystal Morphology
2.2.1 External Form
2.2.2 Surface Features
2.2.3 Internal Morphology
2.2.4 Cathodoluminescence
2.3 Impurities in Diamond Chemistry
2.4 Stable Isotopes in Diamonds
2.4.1 Carbon Isotopes
2.4.2 Nitrogen Isotopes
2.4.3 C-N Isotopic Systematics
2.5 Volatiles and Fluids in Diamonds
Photographs of Diamonds

Chapter 3. Mineral Inclusions in Diamonds
3.1 Geochemistry of Mineral Inclusions
3.2 Age of Mineral Inclusions and Host Diamonds
Photographs of Diamond Inclusions

Chapter 4. Diamond Host Rocks
4.1 Diamond Origin(s)
4.2 Kimberlite Characteristics
4.3 Mantle Host Xenoliths for Diamonds
4.3.1 Peridotite-Pyroxenite Series
4.3.2 Eclogite Series
4.4 Upper Mantle Heterogeneity
4.5 Metasomatic-Induced Partial Melting
4.6 Mantle Xenolith Mineralogy
4.6.1 Mineralogy of Xenoliths from Ultramafic Suite
4.6.2 Mineralogy of Eclogite Xenoliths
Photographs of Diamond Host Rocks

Chapter 5. Diamonds In-Situ
5.1 Characteristics of Diamonds Xenoliths
5.2 Association of Sulfides and Diamonds
5.3 Multi-Stage Diamond Formation in Eclogites
5.4 Metasomatic Origin of Diamonds in Eclogites
5.5 Largest Diamondiferous Eclogite 128
Photographs of Diamond In-Situ

Chemie der Erde 64 (2004): Diamonds: Time Capsules from the Siberian Mantle
By Lawrence A. Taylor and Mahesh Anand: (Courtesy of Elsevier Publishing Company.)

Bibliography: (Emphasis mainly on Yakutian Diamonds in Siberia)