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✦ Optical photomicrograph of a large, gem-quality 'CLIPPIR' diamond showing shiny, linear, metallic inclusion and adjacent wing-shaped, black rosette fracture (photo: Evan Smith).
Superdeep diamonds are derived from below the continental lithosphere and most likely from the transition zone (670km deep) or the top of the lower mantle. A full understanding of their origins and the compositions of the high pressure mineral phases has potential to revolutionize our understanding of deep mantle circulation. The region of the mantle from which these diamonds are derived fills a critical gap in the modern mantle convection cycle known as plate tectonics. Oceanic lithosphere moves away from the ridge, ages, then subducts under arcs often, as seen by seismology, reaching into top of the lower mantle.
Superdeep diamonds are derived from below the continental lithosphere and most likely from the transition zone (670km deep) or the top of the lower mantle. A full understanding of their origins and the compositions of the high pressure mineral phases has potential to revolutionize our understanding of deep mantle circulation. The region of the mantle from which these diamonds are derived fills a critical gap in the modern mantle convection cycle known as plate tectonics. Oceanic lithosphere moves away from the ridge, ages, then subducts under arcs often, as seen by seismology, reaching into top of the lower mantle.
Relevant Publications
Relevant Publications
Shirey, S.B., Pearson, D.G., Stachel, T., Walter, M.J. (2024) Sublithospheric Diamonds: Plate Tectonics from Earth's Deepest Mantle Samples, Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 52, 9.1-9.45 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-032320-105438
Shirey, S.B., Pearson, D.G., Stachel, T., Walter, M.J. (2024) Sublithospheric Diamonds: Plate Tectonics from Earth's Deepest Mantle Samples, Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 52, 9.1-9.45 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-032320-105438
Timmerman, S., Stachel, T., Koornneef, J.M., Smit, K.V., Harlou, R., Nowell, G. M., Thomson, A. R., Kohn, S.C., Davies, J.H.F.L., Davies, G. R., Krebs, M. Y., Zhang, Q., Milne, S.E.M., Harris, J.W., Kaminsky, F., Zedgenizov, D., Bulanova, G. Smith, C.B., Cabral Neto, I., Silveira, F.V., Burnham, A.D., Nestola, F., Shirey, S.B., Walter, M.J., Steele, A. & Pearson, D.G. (2023) Sublithospheric diamond ages and the supercontinent cycle. Nature 623, 752–756. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06662-9
Timmerman, S., Stachel, T., Koornneef, J.M., Smit, K.V., Harlou, R., Nowell, G. M., Thomson, A. R., Kohn, S.C., Davies, J.H.F.L., Davies, G. R., Krebs, M. Y., Zhang, Q., Milne, S.E.M., Harris, J.W., Kaminsky, F., Zedgenizov, D., Bulanova, G. Smith, C.B., Cabral Neto, I., Silveira, F.V., Burnham, A.D., Nestola, F., Shirey, S.B., Walter, M.J., Steele, A. & Pearson, D.G. (2023) Sublithospheric diamond ages and the supercontinent cycle. Nature 623, 752–756. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06662-9
Walter, M. J. Kohn, S.C., Pearson, D.G., Shirey, S.B., Speich, L. Stachel, T., Thomson, A.R., and Yang, J. (2022) Comment on “Discovery of davemaoite, CaSiO3-perovskite, as a mineral from the lower mantle.” Science 376, eabo0882 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo0882
Walter, M. J. Kohn, S.C., Pearson, D.G., Shirey, S.B., Speich, L. Stachel, T., Thomson, A.R., and Yang, J. (2022) Comment on “Discovery of davemaoite, CaSiO3-perovskite, as a mineral from the lower mantle.” Science 376, eabo0882 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo0882
Shirey, S. B., Wagner, L. S., Walter, M. J., Pearson, D. G., & van Keken, P. E. (2021). Slab transport of fluids to deep focus earthquake depths—thermal modeling constraints and evidence from diamonds. AGU Advances, 2, e2020AV000304. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020AV000304 Supplemental Information
Shirey, S. B., Wagner, L. S., Walter, M. J., Pearson, D. G., & van Keken, P. E. (2021). Slab transport of fluids to deep focus earthquake depths—thermal modeling constraints and evidence from diamonds. AGU Advances, 2, e2020AV000304. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020AV000304 Supplemental Information
Smith, E.M., Peng, N., Shirey, S.B., Richardson, SH., Wang, W., and Shahar, A. (2021) Heavy iron in large gem diamonds traces deep subduction of serpentinized ocean floor. Science Advances 7: eabe9773 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe9773 Supplemental Information
Smith, E.M., Peng, N., Shirey, S.B., Richardson, SH., Wang, W., and Shahar, A. (2021) Heavy iron in large gem diamonds traces deep subduction of serpentinized ocean floor. Science Advances 7: eabe9773 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe9773 Supplemental Information
Shirey, S., Smit, K., Pearson, D., Walter, M., Aulbach, S., Brenker, F. E., Bureau, H., Burnham, A. D., Cartigny, P., Chacko, T., Frost, D. J. , Hauri, E. H., Jacob, D. E., Jacobsen, S. D., Kohn, S. C., Luth, R. W., Mikhail, S., Navon, O., Nestola, F., Nimis, P., Smith, E. M., Stachel, T., Stagno, V., Steele, A., Thomassot, E., Thomson, A. R., Weiss, Y. (2019) Diamonds and the Mantle Geodynamics of Carbon: Deep Mantle Carbon Evolution from the Diamond Record. In B. Orcutt, I. Daniel, & R. Dasgupta (Eds.), Deep Carbon: Past to Present (pp. 89-128). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108677950.005. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/deep-carbon/diamonds-and-the-mantle-geodynamics-of-carbon/E46212484DDAA32B1DA14B796EB3D9BC
Shirey, S., Smit, K., Pearson, D., Walter, M., Aulbach, S., Brenker, F. E., Bureau, H., Burnham, A. D., Cartigny, P., Chacko, T., Frost, D. J. , Hauri, E. H., Jacob, D. E., Jacobsen, S. D., Kohn, S. C., Luth, R. W., Mikhail, S., Navon, O., Nestola, F., Nimis, P., Smith, E. M., Stachel, T., Stagno, V., Steele, A., Thomassot, E., Thomson, A. R., Weiss, Y. (2019) Diamonds and the Mantle Geodynamics of Carbon: Deep Mantle Carbon Evolution from the Diamond Record. In B. Orcutt, I. Daniel, & R. Dasgupta (Eds.), Deep Carbon: Past to Present (pp. 89-128). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108677950.005. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/deep-carbon/diamonds-and-the-mantle-geodynamics-of-carbon/E46212484DDAA32B1DA14B796EB3D9BC
Smith, E. M., Shirey, S. B., Richardson, S.H., F. Nestola, F., Bullock, E. S., Wang, J. and Wang, W. (2019) Reply to: Evidence for two blue (type IIb) diamond populations, Nature 570, E28-E29, 2019. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1246-8
Smith, E. M., Shirey, S. B., Richardson, S.H., F. Nestola, F., Bullock, E. S., Wang, J. and Wang, W. (2019) Reply to: Evidence for two blue (type IIb) diamond populations, Nature 570, E28-E29, 2019. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1246-8
Smith, E. M., Shirey, S. B., Richardson S. H., Nestola, F., Bullock, E. S., Wang, J., & Wang, W. (2018) Blue boron-bearing diamonds from Earth’s lower mantle. Nature, 560 (7716), 84–87. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0334-5
Smith, E. M., Shirey, S. B., Richardson S. H., Nestola, F., Bullock, E. S., Wang, J., & Wang, W. (2018) Blue boron-bearing diamonds from Earth’s lower mantle. Nature, 560 (7716), 84–87. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0334-5
Smit, K. V. and Shirey, S. B. (2018) Diamonds help solve the enigma of Earth's deep water, Gems & Gemology, Vol. 54 (no. 2) 220-223. https://www.gia.edu/doc/Summer-2018-Gems-Gemology.pdf
Smit, K. V. and Shirey, S. B. (2018) Diamonds help solve the enigma of Earth's deep water, Gems & Gemology, Vol. 54 (no. 2) 220-223. https://www.gia.edu/doc/Summer-2018-Gems-Gemology.pdf
Smith, E. M., Shirey, S. B. & Wang, W. (2017) The very deep origin of the world's biggest diamonds. Gems and Gemology, Vol. 53, No. 4, pp. 388–403. https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-2017-worlds-biggest-diamonds
Smith, E. M., Shirey, S. B. & Wang, W. (2017) The very deep origin of the world's biggest diamonds. Gems and Gemology, Vol. 53, No. 4, pp. 388–403. https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-2017-worlds-biggest-diamonds
Smith, E. M., Shirey, S. B., Nestola, F., Bullock, E. S., Wang, J., Richardson Stephen, H., & Wang, W. (2016) Large gem diamonds from metallic liquid in Earth’s deep mantle. Science, 354, 1403–1405. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aal1303
Smith, E. M., Shirey, S. B., Nestola, F., Bullock, E. S., Wang, J., Richardson Stephen, H., & Wang, W. (2016) Large gem diamonds from metallic liquid in Earth’s deep mantle. Science, 354, 1403–1405. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aal1303
Shirey, S.B., and Shigley, J.E. (2013) Recent advances in understanding the geology of diamonds: Gems and Gemology, v. 49, 188–222. http://dx.doi.org/10.5741/GEMS.49.4.188
Shirey, S.B., and Shigley, J.E. (2013) Recent advances in understanding the geology of diamonds: Gems and Gemology, v. 49, 188–222. http://dx.doi.org/10.5741/GEMS.49.4.188
Shirey, S.B., Cartigny, P., Frost, D.J., Keshav, S., Nestola, F., Nimis, P., Pearson, D.G., Sobolev, N.V., and Walter, M.J. (2013) Diamonds and the Geology of Mantle Carbon: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 75, p. 355–421. http://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2013.75.12
Shirey, S.B., Cartigny, P., Frost, D.J., Keshav, S., Nestola, F., Nimis, P., Pearson, D.G., Sobolev, N.V., and Walter, M.J. (2013) Diamonds and the Geology of Mantle Carbon: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 75, p. 355–421. http://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2013.75.12
Walter, M. J., Kohn, S. C., Araujo, D., Bulanova, G. P., Smith, C. B., Gaillou, E., et al. (2011) Deep Mantle Cycling of Oceanic Crust: Evidence from Diamonds and Their Mineral Inclusions. Science, 334, 54–57. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1209300
Walter, M. J., Kohn, S. C., Araujo, D., Bulanova, G. P., Smith, C. B., Gaillou, E., et al. (2011) Deep Mantle Cycling of Oceanic Crust: Evidence from Diamonds and Their Mineral Inclusions. Science, 334, 54–57. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1209300
Harte, B. (2011) Diamond Window into the Lower Mantle. Science, 334, 51–52. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1213012
Harte, B. (2011) Diamond Window into the Lower Mantle. Science, 334, 51–52. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1213012
Pearson, D.G., Canil, D., and Shirey, S.B. (2003) Chapter 7 - Mantle samples included in volcanic rocks: xenoliths and diamonds, in Carlson, R.W., ed., Teatise On Geochemistry: Vol. 2, The Mantle: New York, Elsevier, p. 171-277. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0080437516020053?via%3Dihub
Pearson, D.G., Canil, D., and Shirey, S.B. (2003) Chapter 7 - Mantle samples included in volcanic rocks: xenoliths and diamonds, in Carlson, R.W., ed., Teatise On Geochemistry: Vol. 2, The Mantle: New York, Elsevier, p. 171-277. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0080437516020053?via%3Dihub
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