A Glossary of Kimberlite and Related Terms (3-Volume Set)

About this book

This Glossary of Kimberlite and Related Terms is a comprehensive handbook for use in the investigation of kimberlites (the most common type of primary diamond deposit) and related rocks by both the diamond industry and academia. Together with the companion peer-reviewed publication by Scott Smith et al. (2013), the Glossary presents a rationalised approach to kimberlite terminology with a practical, systematic framework or nomenclature scheme. The goal is to provide a standard that will enable (i) more consistent description, classification, interpretation and understanding of the complex and unusual rocks encountered during diamond exploration, evaluation and mining; and (ii) improved communication of that information including during diamond resource development. The focus of this Glossary is kimberlite, but the same concepts, but not always the details, are applicable to other diamond-bearing rocks such as lamproite.

Part 1: Glossary (144 pages) – the complete Glossary, bibliography and references
Detailed information for 343 terms (~66,000 words) is presented in alphabetical order. Each term has a definition, a recommendation and where relevant a further clarification. Several tables and schematic figures are also included. The definitions are intended to be as simple and pragmatic as possible. The glossary recommends that a number of previously utilised terms be discontinued, especially certain historical kimberlite-specific terms, and includes commentary on these, while a summary table of the recommendations is presented in Part 2.

Part 2: Practical Guide (59 pages) - practical guidelines for the investigation of kimberlites
This practical guide presents (i) guidelines for application of the practical five stage nomenclature scheme involving progressive levels of investigation and interpretation, (ii) guidelines for application of the conceptual framework for the description of kimberlite components, (iii) recommendations for problematic terms, (iv) abbreviations for kimberlite terms, that are by necessity sometimes cumbersome, (v) terms relevant to kimberlites listed by topic, (vi) an overview of the kimberlite-specific abundance and size descriptors for kimberlite components, (vii) examples of the application of the Nomenclature Scheme, (viii) an overview of kimberlite body and pipe zone terminology, and (ix) a glossary subset with definitions for only the main recommended terms relevant to kimberlites (158 terms).

Part 3: Abundance and Size Descriptors (56 pages) – guidelines for the application of kimberlite-specific descriptors
Detailed guidelines are presented for the application of economically-relevant kimberlite-specific abundance and size descriptors for the main components in kimberlites – crystals (mainly olivine), magmaclasts, accretionary clasts, interstitial matrix, xenoliths, autoliths and epiclasts. Self-explanatory summaries, relevant definitions from Part 1 and compilations of tables and diagrams are included, as well as a range of to-scale diagrammatic illustrations for determining visual abundance and size estimates. Part 3 is a useful companion for drillcore logging and helps to improve accuracy of macroscopic observations, especially critical for economic investigations.

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