Archaean and Proterozoic diamond growth from contrasting styles of large-scale magmatism

Precise dating of diamond growth is required to understand the interior workings of the early Earth and the deep carbon cycle. Here we report Sm-Nd isotope data from 26 individual garnet inclusions from 26 harzburgitic diamonds from Venetia, South Africa. Garnet inclusions and host diamonds comprise two compositional suites formed under markedly different conditions and define two isochrons, one Archaean (2.95 Ga) and one Proterozoic (1.15 Ga). The Archaean diamond suite formed from relatively cool fluid-dominated metasomatism during rifting of the southern shelf of the Zimbabwe Craton. The 1.8 billion years younger Proterozoic diamond suite formed by melt-dominated metasomatism related to the 1.1 Ga Umkondo Large Igneous Province. The results demonstrate that resolving the time of diamond growth events requires dating of individual inclusions, and that there was a major change in the magmatic processes responsible for harzburgitic diamond formation beneath Venetia from the Archaean to the Proterozoic

Episodic diamond growth beneath the Kaapvaal Craton at Jwaneng Mine, Botswana

Important implications for the interior workings of the Earth can be drawn by studying diamonds and their inclusions. To better understand the timing and number of diamond forming events beneath the NW margin of the Kaapvaal Craton, a comprehensive reassessment of Jwaneng’s diamond populations has been undertaken. We report new inclusion abundance data from the visual examination of ~130,000 diamonds that validate the predominance of an eclogitic diamond suite (up to 88%) with on average 5% inclusion-bearing diamonds (with inclusions >10 μm in size). From this population, polished plates from 79 diamonds of eclogitic and peridotitic paragenesis have been studied with cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) traverses. The majority (80%) record major changes in N concentration and aggregation states, as well as sharp boundaries in the CL images of individual plates that are interpreted to demarcate discrete diamond growth events. In addition, bulk FTIR data have been acquired for 373 unpolished diamonds. Silicate inclusions sampled from distinct growth zones define 2 compositional groups of omphacites and pyrope-almandines associated with different N contents in their diamond hosts. These findings reinforce previous observations that at Jwaneng at least seven individual diamond forming events can be identified – 3 peridotitic and 4 eclogitic. The results demonstrate that detailed examination of diamond plates by CL imaging and FTIR traverses is necessary to unveil the complex history recorded in diamonds

Mapping genetic variations to three- dimensional protein structures to enhance variant interpretation: a proposed framework

The translation of personal genomics to precision medicine depends on the accurate interpretation of the multitude of genetic variants observed for each individual. However, even when genetic variants are predicted to modify a protein, their functional implications may be unclear. Many diseases are caused by genetic variants affecting important protein features, such as enzyme active sites or interaction interfaces. The scientific community has catalogued millions of genetic variants in genomic databases and thousands of protein structures in the Protein Data Bank. Mapping mutations onto three-dimensional (3D) structures enables atomic-level analyses of protein positions that may be important for the stability or formation of interactions; these may explain the effect of mutations and in some cases even open a path for targeted drug development. To accelerate progress in the integration of these data types, we held a two-day Gene Variation to 3D (GVto3D) workshop to report on the latest advances and to discuss unmet needs. The overarching goal of the workshop was to address the question: what can be done together as a community to advance the integration of genetic variants and 3D protein structures that could not be done by a single investigator or laboratory? Here we describe the workshop outcomes, review the state of the field, and propose the development of a framework with which to promote progress in this arena. The framework will include a set of standard formats, common ontologies, a common application programming interface to enable interoperation of the resources, and a Tool Registry to make it easy to find and apply the tools to specific analysis problems. Interoperability will enable integration of diverse data sources and tools and collaborative development of variant effect prediction methods

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ∼ 1.7 {{s}} with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of {40}-8+8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 {M}ȯ . An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ∼ 40 {{Mpc}}) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One-Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ∼10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ∼ 9 and ∼ 16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC 4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta.</p

Mesozoic to Paleoproterozoic diamond growth beneath Botswana recorded by Re-Os ages from individual eclogitic and websteritic inclusions

Re-Os isotope systematics are reported from a suite of eclogitic and websteritic sulphide inclusions extracted from well-characterised diamond growth zones from the Orapa and Jwaneng kimberlite clusters. Re-Os ages (786 ± 250 Ma) are within uncertainty of previously determined Sm-Nd ages (853 ± 55 Ma), demonstrating isotopic equilibrium, at varying levels of completeness, across multiple isotopic systems in different minerals at the time of diamond formation and inclusion encapsulation. These data confirm the concept that inclusion isochron ages, when used with detailed textural/ growth zone control, reflect the timing of diamond crystallisation. Our data substantiate previous Re-Os and Sm-Nd inclusion ages of diamonds from Orapa and Jwaneng, indicating that major tectono-magmatic events formed discrete diamond populations of Paleo- (~ 2.0 to 1.7 Ga), Meso- (~ 1.2 to 1.1 Ga) and Neoproterozoic (~ 0.9 to 0.75 Ga) age. Some of these processes occurred simultaneously across the Kalahari Craton and can be traced over 100's of km illustrating the significance of diamond inclusions for monitoring continental tectonics. Inclusion ages indicating diamond formation that are younger than 300 Ma appear to be more common than previously recognised, consistent with evidence of relatively abundant, young, fluid-rich “fibrous” and polycrystalline diamonds at Jwaneng and Orapa. The increasingly widespread evidence for Mesozoic diamond-forming events in southern Africa and elsewhere appears closely linked with the kimberlite-related magmatism that affected these regions and subsequently transported diamonds to the surface. The inclusion isochron ages emphasise that diamond formation is a multi-stage and episodic process that can occur contemporaneously in disparate substrates and produce multiple diamond populations in the sub-continental lithospheric mantle

A combined cathodoluminescence and electron backscatter diffraction examination of the growth relationships between Jwaneng diamonds and their eclogitic inclusions

To fully understand the implications of the compositional information recorded by inclusions in diamond it is vital to know if their growth was syn- or protogenetic and the extent to which they have equilibrated with diamond forming agents. The current paradigm is that the majority of inclusions in diamond are syngenetic but recently this assumption has been questioned. This study presents an integrated cathodoluminescence (CL) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) study of 8 diamonds containing eclogitic inclusions: 19 pyrope-almandine garnets, 12 omphacitic clinopyroxenes, 4 sulphides, 1 coesite and 1 rutile from the Jwaneng diamond mine, Botswana. Diamond plates were sequentially polished to expose inclusions at different levels and CL imaging and EBSD were performed to constrain the relationship between diamond and inclusion growth. Despite complex growth and resorption, individual diamonds are single crystals with a homogeneous crystallographic orientation. All individual inclusions have homogeneous crystallographic orientation and no resolvable compositional zonation. The combined CL and EBSD data suggest that epitaxial inclusion-diamond growth is rare (none of 24 inclusions) and that the imposition of cubo-octahedral faces on inclusions does not necessarily result in epitaxy. Individual diamonds contain inclusions that record evidence of both syngentic and protogenetic relationships with the host diamond and in one case an inclusion appears syngenetic to the diamond core but protogenetic to the growth zone that surrounds 70% of the inclusion. These findings emphasise that inclusions in diamonds have multiple modes of origin and that in order to validate the significance of geochronological studies, further work is needed to establish that there is rapid chemical equilibration of protogenetic inclusions with diamond forming agents at mantle temperatures

A combined cathodoluminescence and electron backscatter diffraction examination of the growth relationships between Jwaneng diamonds and their eclogitic inclusions

To fully understand the implications of the compositional information recorded by inclusions in diamond it is vital to know if their growth was syn- or protogenetic and the extent to which they have equilibrated with diamond forming agents. The current paradigm is that the majority of inclusions in diamond are syngenetic but recently this assumption has been questioned. This study presents an integrated cathodoluminescence (CL) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) study of 8 diamonds containing eclogitic inclusions: 19 pyrope-almandine garnets, 12 omphacitic clinopyroxenes, 4 sulphides, 1 coesite and 1 rutile from the Jwaneng diamond mine, Botswana. Diamond plates were sequentially polished to expose inclusions at different levels and CL imaging and EBSD were performed to constrain the relationship between diamond and inclusion growth. Despite complex growth and resorption, individual diamonds are single crystals with a homogeneous crystallographic orientation. All individual inclusions have homogeneous crystallographic orientation and no resolvable compositional zonation. The combined CL and EBSD data suggest that epitaxial inclusion-diamond growth is rare (none of 24 inclusions) and that the imposition of cubo-octahedral faces on inclusions does not necessarily result in epitaxy. Individual diamonds contain inclusions that record evidence of both syngentic and protogenetic relationships with the host diamond and in one case an inclusion appears syngenetic to the diamond core but protogenetic to the growth zone that surrounds 70% of the inclusion. These findings emphasise that inclusions in diamonds have multiple modes of origin and that in order to validate the significance of geochronological studies, further work is needed to establish that there is rapid chemical equilibration of protogenetic inclusions with diamond forming agents at mantle temperatures

A combined cathodoluminescence and electron backscatter diffraction examination of the growth relationships between Jwaneng diamonds and their eclogitic inclusions

To fully understand the implications of the compositional information recorded by inclusions in diamond it is vital to know if their growth was syn- or protogenetic and the extent to which they have equilibrated with diamond forming agents. The current paradigm is that the majority of inclusions in diamond are syngenetic but recently this assumption has been questioned. This study presents an integrated cathodoluminescence (CL) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) study of 8 diamonds containing eclogitic inclusions: 19 pyrope-almandine garnets, 12 omphacitic clinopyroxenes, 4 sulphides, 1 coesite and 1 rutile from the Jwaneng diamond mine, Botswana. Diamond plates were sequentially polished to expose inclusions at different levels and CL imaging and EBSD were performed to constrain the relationship between diamond and inclusion growth. Despite complex growth and resorption, individual diamonds are single crystals with a homogeneous crystallographic orientation. All individual inclusions have homogeneous crystallographic orientation and no resolvable compositional zonation. The combined CL and EBSD data suggest that epitaxial inclusion-diamond growth is rare (none of 24 inclusions) and that the imposition of cubo-octahedral faces on inclusions does not necessarily result in epitaxy. Individual diamonds contain inclusions that record evidence of both syngentic and protogenetic relationships with the host diamond and in one case an inclusion appears syngenetic to the diamond core but protogenetic to the growth zone that surrounds 70% of the inclusion. These findings emphasise that inclusions in diamonds have multiple modes of origin and that in order to validate the significance of geochronological studies, further work is needed to establish that there is rapid chemical equilibration of protogenetic inclusions with diamond forming agents at mantle temperatures