40Ar/39Ar analyses of clinopyroxene inclusions in African diamonds: Implications for source ages of detrital diamonds

Abstract

Clinopyroxene inclusions in diamond contain elevated potassium contents and can potentially be dated by 40Ar/39Ar techniques. Previous 40Ar/39Ar studies of clinopyroxene inclusions contained in cleaved diamonds have suggested that argon, produced from the decay of potassium prior to eruption of the host kimberlite magma, diffuses to the diamond/clinopyroxene interface under mantle conditions. After intrusion and cooling below the closure temperature for argon diffusion, radiogenic argon is retained by the clinopyroxene inclusions. This behaviour complicates efforts to date diamond crystallisation events; however, extraction of inclusions from their host diamond should induce loss of all inte..