Attrition in the kimberlite system



Jones, Thomas J ORCID: 0000-0003-4981-5131 and Russell, James K
(2018) Attrition in the kimberlite system. MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY, 112 (Suppl ). pp. 491-501.

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Abstract

The sustained transportation of particles in a suspension commonly results in <i>particle attrition</i> leading to grain size reduction and shape modification. Particle attrition is a well-studied phenomenon that has mainly focussed on sediments produced in aeolian or fluvial environments. Here, we present analogue experiments designed to explore processes of attrition in the kimberlite system; we focus on olivine as it is the most abundant constituent of kimberlite. The attrition experiments on olivine use separate experimental set-ups to approximate two natural environments relevant to kimberlites. Tumbling mill experiments feature a low energy system supporting near continual particle-particle contact and are relevant to re-sedimentation and dispersal processes. Experiments performed in a fluidized particle bed constitute a substantially higher energy environment pertinent to kimberlite ascent and eruption. The run-products of each experiment are analysed for grain size reduction and shape modification and these data are used to elucidate the rates and extents of olivine attrition as a function of time and energy. Lastly, we model the two experimental datasets with an empirical rate equation that describes the production of daughter products (fines) with time. Both datasets approach a fines production limit, or plateau, at long particle residence times; the fluidized system is much more efficient producing a substantially higher fines content and reaches the plateau faster. Our experimental results and models provide a way to forensically examine a wide range of processes relevant to kimberlite on the basis of olivine size and shape properties.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Kimberlite ascent, Olivine fines production model, Olivine wear, Abrasion, Milling, Crystal breakage
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 08 Jul 2020 09:24
Last Modified: 02 Feb 2024 10:15
DOI: 10.1007/s00710-018-0580-0
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-018-0580-0
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3093199