Understanding the deep Earth through inclusions trapped in diamonds applying synchrotron radiation multiple techniques

• Grant number: 24/00333-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Helio Cesar Nogueira Tolentino
• Grantee: Fernanda Gervasoni
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Diamonds are the hardest mineral on the planet. They are refractory and resistant minerals; therefore they are considered time capsules that may preserve other deep mantle minerals, melt and fluid inclusions that were trapped in their crystal structure during crystallization. Most diamonds are formed in the lithosphere at depths of about 130-150 km in the Earth's interior. On the other hand, sublithospheric diamonds crystallized at much greater depths and are very rare. Diamonds are great tools to better understanding the Earth`s mantle. They trap inclusions that may indicate physical conditions, the chemical composition, and redox conditions that the deep Earth is formed. In the central-western of Brazil there are plenty occurrences of kimberlites, and plenty of them had brought diamonds to the surface. Although there are several published petrographically studies on Brazilian diamonds and their inclusions, modern studies that involve different spectroscopic methods are unprecedented. The aim of this project is to provide novel data to characterize the inclusions found in Brazilian diamonds from Juína (Mato Grosso) and Coromandel (Minas Gerais), with focus on the redox state of determined elements to better understand the different redox conditions found in the deep Earth. All project will be developed at the new 4th generation synchrotron radiation source - Sirius at the Brazilian National Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS). (AU)