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Mantle degassing and diamond genesis: A carbon isotope perspective

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Abstract

The effect of CO2 and CH4 degassing from the mantle on the carbon isotopic composition of diamond has been quantitatively modeled in terms of the principles of Rayleigh distillation. Assuming the δ13C value of -5‰ for the mantle, the outgassing of CO2 can result in the large negative δ13C values of diamond, whereas the outgassing of CH4 can drive the δ13C values of diamond in the positive direction. The theoretical expectations can be used to explain the full range of δ13C values from -34.4‰ to +5‰ observed for natural diamonds. It is possible that diamond formation was triggered by the degassing of CO2 and/ or CH4 from the mantle and the associated fractional crystallization of carbonate-bearing melt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui

    Zheng Yong-Fei

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  1. Zheng Yong-Fei
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This study was financially supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences within the framework of the project “Stable Isotope Geochemistry of the Earth’s Crust and Mantle”.

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Yong-Fei, Z. Mantle degassing and diamond genesis: A carbon isotope perspective. Chin. J. of Geochem. 13, 305–316 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02838520

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