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Monastery Kimberlite, South Africa University of Alberta A Feasibility Study of U-Pb llmenite Geochronology, Monastery Kimberlite, South Africa Andrea K. Noyes @ A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Edmonton, Alberta Spring, 2000 National Library Bibliothèque nationale I*I of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une Licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Libmy of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sen reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thése sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de rnicrofiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fkom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract The Monastery kimberlite, South Afn'ca, is considered to be a Group 1 kimberlite with an emplacement age of 90 Ma. This study dernonstrates that multiple isotopic techniques can be applied to a single kimberlite and yield precise and consistent emplacement ages: Rb-Sr phlogopite age of 89.9 I 3.1 Ma, U-Pb perovskite age of 91-0 i 1.O Ma, U-Pb mantle zircon age of 89.9 I 3.5 Ma. The results of a U-Pb ilmenite geochronology study are highIy encouraging. There is a considerable variation in parenvdaughter ratios (39.8-311.4) between ilmenite megacrysts and macrocrysts and even within a single megacryst (39.8-115.5). These variations are interpreted to be of primary origin. The U-Pb ilmenite age obtained for the Monastery kirnberlite in this study is 95 I 14 Ma, in good agreement with the age of kimberlite emplacement determined by other radiometric techniques both in this study and in previous studies. Although further refinement of the technique is needed, this study demonstrates for the first time the feasibitity of U-Pb geochronology of kimberlitic ilrnenite. Dedication Acknowledaements 1 would Iike to begin by thanking rny supeniisor Dr. Larry Heaman, for hefping me develop an innovative thesis topic and introducing me to the world of radiogenic geochronoiogy. 1 would Iike to extend my gratitude to Larry for the time and patience he has devoted to editing my thesis and also for the funding enabling me to attend the 7"' International Kimberlite Conference in Cape Town, South Africa- The experience is unforgettable. 1 would Iike to thank my CO-supervisors,Dr. Bob Luth for helping me get on the right track of scientific writing and Dr. Rob Creaser for suggesting the Rb-Sr isotopic technique that became an integral part of my project. Their advice and suggestions were a valuable asset to this project. It woutd be impossible to begin a project without the support of technical staff- 1 would Iike to thank Mark Labbe and Don Resultay in the rock cutting and thin section lab for their efforts in getting sarnples done under time constraints; Barbara Bohm for showing me the rock crushing and minera! separation procedures; Lang Shi for help on the microprobe; George Braybrook for SEM analyses of sorne 'unknown' minerais; Stacey Hagen for her tutorials and patience in the mass spectrometry lab and Randy Pakan for scanning diagrams and preparing slides for talks when time had run out. Becoming a graduate student at the University of Alberta has been a rewarding experience both academically and socially. 1 have had the great opportunity of meeting rnany wonderful people who have becorne life long friends. t would like to thank Dave for ail his help when he found me in a panic, spending rnany hours getting diagrarns 'just right' for presentations, for taking the time out to edit portions of my thesis and for hours of entertainment of 'pictionary fun' at the Next Act. I would like to thank Candice, Nancy and Steph for ail the hours of gab sessions, for being there when 'you just needed to talk' and for al1 the laughs at silly things 1 donPtthink anyone else would have found funny. I also want to thank Al, Cathy, Mike H., Rajeev, Karen and Elspeth, who have listened to me during tough tirnes and have never doubted rny abilities as 'it's normal to feel like that'. When i arrived, there were a group of people that took me under their wing and made the transition of living in a new city more comfortable. I thank Betsy, Kim, Leslie, Devon, George, Skids and Joe for al1 the fun tirnes on hiking and back-country skiing trips in the mountains and party nights (Halloween-flower power, malt whiskey parties at George's, dancing at the commercial and Next Act nachos on cold winter nights). I would also like to thank the 'Monopros Gang' who are real troopers and who do things 'for the team'. Deirdre, Jason, Aaron, Cody, Siobhan and Claudine have al1 made work expenence 'interestirig'. I value the tirne and the experiences with them in the 'land of the rnidnight sun'. Lastly but certainIy not least, 1 thank my parents and rny brother, Stephen, for their unending support and confidence in rny endeavors. They have provided advice and encouraging words when things felt grim, have aIways had the utmost belief in me and taught me that perseverance is the key to every trial in life. Keep on keepin' on. 1 cherish al1 the mernories gained and the ones to corne. Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................... Geology of the Monastery Mine Regional setting ..................................................................... Geology of the Monastery kimbedite ........................................... Previous Work Histon'cal ............................................................................... Background on ilrnenite mineral chernisfry .................................... Summary of previous geochronology for the ..... r ........................... Monastery kimberlife Petrography ................................................................................ Mineral chemistry of some Monastery rnegacrysts .............................. Ilmenite Discrete Nodules ......................................................... Groundmass llmenite ............................................................... Compat7son with ilmenite from other kimberlife studies ................... Phlogopite ............................................................................ Perovskite ............................................................................ Isotope Geochemistry Analytical Techniques Rb-Sr ........................................................................... U-Pb (perovskite, zircon and ilmenite) ................................. Results Rb-Sr Phlogopite ............................................................. U-Pb Perovskite .............................................................. U-Pb Man fle Zircon .......................................................... U-Pb llmenite .................................................................. Discussion Geochronology of kimberlite - traditional techniques Rb-Sr Phlogopite ............................................................. U-Pb Perovskife ................... .,. .. ..., ....................*-......*..* U-Pb Mantle Zircon .......................................................... Geochronology of kimberfite .new technique U-Pb llmenïte 4 Geochemistry ................................................................ 66 ii) Geochronology .............................................................. 67 Summary of Age Determinations .......................................... 68 Nature of kimberlite source regions i) Lead ............................................................................ 70 ii) Strontium ............................ ..., ................................ 71 Conclusions ................................................................................. 72 References ................................................................................. Appendix A ................................................................................. lim enite ma crocrysts ................................................................ limenile rnegacrysts ................................................................. Groundmass llmenite ............................................................... Phlogopile ............................................................................. Perovskite ............................................................................. List of Figures Figure 1 Map of South Africa .................. .... .............................. Figitre 2 Orogenic events of Africa .............................................. Figure 3 Timeline of events for the African continent ....................... Figure 4 Karoo Sedimentary systern of South Afnca ........................ Figure 5 Monastery kimberlite pipe ..................... ., ...................... Figure 6 Ilmenite trends and compositions .................................... Figure 7 Published ages for Monastery
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