Lamproite
“Diamond-bearing lava from the deep mantle”
Lamproite is a rare, potassium-rich ultrapotassic volcanic rock that originates from deep in the lithospheric mantle. Like kimberlite, some lamproites carry diamonds to the surface, and the famous Argyle mine in Australia — the world's largest diamond source by volume — exploited a lamproite pipe.
phlogopite, leucite, richterite, olivine, diopside, sanidine, priderite
Argyle (Western Australia), Leucite Hills (Wyoming, USA), Smoky Butte (Montana), Murcia-Almería (Spain), Kapamba (Zambia)
5-6
The Argyle lamproite in Western Australia produced over 800 million carats of diamonds before closing in 2020, including about 90% of the world's rare pink and red diamonds — among the most valuable gems on Earth.
Test Your Knowledge
What key difference between lamproite and kimberlite magmas makes lamproites unusual diamond hosts?
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