Abstract
CONSIDERABLE debate surrounds the existence of silicon carbide in nature, mostly owing to the problem of possible contamination by man-made SiC. Recently, Gurney1 reviewed reports of rare SiC inclusions in diamonds, and noted that SiC can only be regarded as a probable rather than proven cogenetic mineral. Here we report our observation of clusters of SiC coexisting with diamond in a kimberlite from Fuxian, China. Macrocrysts of α-SiC are overgrown epitaxially by β-SiC, and both polymorphs are structurally well ordered. We have also measured the carbon isotope compositions of SiC and diamonds from Fuxian. We find that SiC is more enriched in 12C than diamond by 20‰, relative to the PDB standard. Isotope fractionation might have occurred through an isotope exchange reaction in a common carbon reservoir. Silicon carbide may thus ultimately provide information on carbon cycling in the Earth's mantle.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gurney, J. J. in Kimberlites and Related Rocks Vol. 2 (eds Ross, J. et al), 935–965 (Blackwell, Carlton, 1989).
Moissan, H. C.r. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 139, 773–780 (1904).
Mason, B. Am. Miner. 52, 307–325 (1967).
Bobrievich, A. P., Kalyuzhuyi, V. A. & Smirnov, G. I. Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 115, 1189–1192 (1957).
Bauer, J., Fiala, J. & Hřichová, R. Am. Miner. 48, 620–634 (1963).
Marshintsev, V. K., Shchelchkova, S. G., Zol'nikov, G. V. & Voskresenskaya, V. B. Geol. Geofiz. Novosib. 12, 22–31 (1967).
Regis, A. J. & Sand, L. B. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 69, 1633 (1958).
Marshintsev, V. K., Zayakina, N. V. & Leskova, N. V. Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 262, 204–206 (1982).
Lyakhovich, V. V. Izv. Acad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Geol. 4, 63–74 (1979).
Milton, C. & Vitaliano, D. B. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 17, 665 (1985).
Gauthier, J. P. J. Microsc. 119, 189–197 (1980).
Woermann, E., Knecht, B., Rosenhauer, M. & Ulmer, G. C. Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. Kimberlites Abstr. (1977).
Leung, I. S. Am. Miner. (in the press).
Woermann, E. & Rosenhauer, M. Fortschr. Miner. 63, 263–349 (1985).
Harris, P. G. in Kimberlite Occurrence and Origin (eds Glover, J. E. & Harris, P. G.) 125–142 (Univ. Western Australia, Nedlands, 1985).
Knippenberg, W. F. Philips Res. Rep. 18, 161–274 (1963).
Cohen, L. H. & Klement, W. J. geophys. Res. 72, 4245–4251 (1967).
Böhler, R. & Arndt, J. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 48, 149–152 (1974).
Zoltai, T. & Stout, J. H. Mineralogy: Concepts and Principles (Burgess, Minneapolis, 1984).
Koval'skii, V. V. & Cherskii, N. V. Ind. Diam. Rev. 33, 54–56 (1973).
Galimov, E. M. Geokhimiya 8, 1091–1118 (1984).
Deines, P., Harris, J. W. & Gurney, J. J. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 51, 1227–1243 (1987).
Boyd, S. R. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 86, 341–353 (1987).
Milledge, H. J. et al. Nature 303, 791–792 (1983).
Javoy, M., Pineau, F. & Iijima, I. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 67, 35–39 (1978).
Swart, P. K., Pillinger, C. T., Milledge, H. J. & Seal, M. Nature 303, 793–795 (1983).
Berman, R. in Physical Properties of Diamond (ed. Berman, R.) 371–393 (Clarendon, Oxford, 1965).
Humphrey, G. L., Todd, S. S., Coughlin, J. P. & King, E. G. Bur. Mines Rept. Invest. 4888 (U.S. Dept. Inter., Pittsburgh, 1952).
Deines, P. & Wickman, F. E. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 39, 547–557 (1975).
Deines, P. & Wickman, F. E. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 37, 1259–1319 (1973).
Broecker, W. S. & Oversby, V. M. Chemical Equilibria in the Earth (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1971).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leung, I., Guo, W., Friedman, I. et al. Natural occurrence of silicon carbide in a diamondiferous kimberlite from Fuxian. Nature 346, 352–354 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/346352a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/346352a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Equations of state of α-SiC (6H) and βʹ-Mg2Si1.1 from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and novel high-pressure magnesium silicide Mg2Si7
Physics and Chemistry of Minerals (2022)
-
Ti3+ in corundum traces crystal growth in a highly reduced magma
Scientific Reports (2021)
-
Natural moissanite (SiC) – a low temperature mineral formed from highly fractionated ultra-reducing COH-fluids
Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (2014)
-
Conversion of silicon carbide to crystalline diamond-structured carbon at ambient pressure
Nature (2001)
-
Redox states of lithospheric and asthenospheric upper mantle
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (1993)