The Permian (~245 Ma) Jwaneng kimberlite is situated in southern Botswana, in the northwestern part of the Kaapvaal craton.
This study represents the first published overview of the geology of the Jwaneng kimberlite since its discovery in 1973.
The kimberlite comprises three steep-sided pipes that coalesce approximately 100m below the present-day surface to form a 54ha body. These pipes have been labelled the South, Centre and North Lobes.
Although the shapes of these pipes are comparable to other southern African pipes, they are filled to considerable depth (600m+) with crater facies volcaniclastic kimberlite. No tuffisitic kimberlite breccia (after the classification of Clement and Skinner, 1985), common in steep-sided southern African kimberlites, has to date been identified in these pipes.
Thus, the Jwaneng kimberlite appears to represent an exception to the standard kimberlite geology of southern African kimberlites(Kimberley et al., n.d).
Beyond its dazzling output, the Jwaneng diamond deposit holds a fascinating geological story buried deep within the Earth’s crust! What unique formations and ancient processes shaped this world-renowned kimberlite? Share your insights!
Reference:
Kimberley Webb, Johann Stiefenhofer and Matthew Field
