Kimberlite

Introduction: Kimberlite is named after the South African diamond mining town of Kimberley. The American geologist, Henry Carvill Lewis, named and described the rock. It is also known as brecciated peridotite.

Distribution: Sperrgebeit.

Composition: Apart from gem-quality diamonds, kimberlite consists of apatite, calcite, diopside, ilmentite, monticellite, olivine, phlogopite, serpentinite and peroviskite.

Colouration: A dark coloured rock scattered with mineralogical speckles.

Uses: Kimberlite contains rare xenocrysts or diamonds.