kimberliittimagma

Kimberliittimagma is a theoretical magma type proposed in high‑pressure petrological studies to explain certain deep‑mantle melt compositions. The term combines “kimberlite,” a well‑known mafic volcanic rock that originates from the mantle, and the suffix “magma,” indicating a molten material. Kimberliittimagma has been suggested to exist at depths exceeding 700 kilometers, where temperatures reach between 1,300 and 1,500 degrees Celsius and pressures exceed 25 kilobars.

The composition of kimberliittimagma is thought to be low in oxygen fugacity, high in silicon and magnesium, and rich in aluminum and light trace elements such as nitrogen and neon. Its mineral assemblage would include ringwoodite, bridgmanite, and ferropericlase, similar to other deep mantle melts. Because of the extreme pressure environment, crystallization of these minerals would be delayed, allowing the magma to remain in a liquid state longer than at shallower depths.

Kimberliittimagma is of interest to geoscientists because it could provide a mechanism for transporting volatile components from the lower mantle to the surface. By forming xenoliths or melt pockets within the Earth's mantle, it would influence the composition of networks of diamond‑forming kimberlite magmas. Some laboratory experiments involving laser-heated diamond anvil cells have produced melt samples that mimic the predicted properties of kimberliittimagma, offering indirect evidence of its viability.

Despite its theoretical foundation, direct sampling of kimberliittimagma is currently impossible due to the inaccessible depth and extreme conditions. Ongoing research focuses on refining computational models and analyzing deep‑origin diamond inclusions for trace elements, which may reveal the presence of such melt behavior. The study of kimberliittimagma remains a niche area within mantle petrology, illustrating the complexities of melt generation below the Earth's crust.