Diamonds and related minerals from the Dokolwayo Kimberlite, Kingdom of Swaziland

Several physical characteristics, the carbon isotopic compositions, inclusion mineralogy, and distribution of the Dokolwayo diamonds were investigated. A representative suite of concentrate garnet megacrysts and macrocrysts were analyzed for their compositions. Concentrate macrocryst spinels and silicate inclusions recovered from these spinels were analyzed. The physical characteristics of the diamonds investigated were mass, size, morphology and colour. The relationship between mass and size in a population of diamonds recovered from a single hypabyssal intrusion and the general production as a whole, was found to be statistically the same. The most recognizable morphology is the dodecahedron. Octahedra decrease in significance with a decrease in size. Colourless stones predominate. Brown stones are more common than yellow stones, which is uncommon in primary southern Africa diamond populations. Diamonds characterized by "Tanganyika naats" have hitherto not been described from southern Africa. The relationship between the various physical characteristics investigated indicate that the general Dokolwayo diamond population consists of at least four sub-populations.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Geological Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Daniels, L R M

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15962

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/15962