Journal article
Petrography, Sr-isotope geochemistry and geochronology of the Nxau Nxau kimberlites, north-west Botswana
H Farr, D Phillips, R Maas, M de Wit
Mineralogy and Petrology | SPRINGER WIEN | Published : 2018
Abstract
The Nxau Nxau kimberlites in northwest Botswana belong to the Xaudum kimberlite province that also includes the Sikereti, Kaudom and Gura kimberlite clusters in north-east Namibia. The Nxau Nxau kimberlites lie on the southernmost extension of the Congo Craton, which incorporates part of the Damara Orogenic Belt on its margin. The Xaudum kimberlite province is geographically isolated from other known clusters but occurs within the limits of the NW-SE oriented, Karoo-aged Okavango Dyke Swarm and near NE-SW faults interpreted as the early stages of the East African Rift System. Petrographic, geochronological and isotopic studies were undertaken to characterise the nature of these kimberlites a..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We thank Graham Hutchinson, Alan Greig and Erin Matchan and Stan Szczepanski for assistance with EMP, LA-ICP-MS and <SUP>40</SUP>Ar/<SUP>39</SUP>Ar analysis, respectively and to The University of Melbourne Noble Gas and Isotope Geochemistry Labs. We are also grateful to Tsodilo Resources for access to samples and logistical support. The primary author is a grateful recipient of an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. The authors would like to thank Bruce Kjarsgaard, Sebastian Tappe and an anonymous reviewer for their thoughtful and constructive comments on this paper and Angus Fitzpayne for his assistance in proof-reading.