The Characteristics and Species Identification of Garnets Hosted in the Kimberlites from Wafangdian, Liaoning Province

The garnets in the kimberlites of the Wafangdian diamond mining area from Liaoning province have previously been identified as pyrope. In order to define the types of the complicated color garnets in Wafangdian, a systematic sampling and analysis of the garnets in the mining area was taken, including the definition of 112 single mineral crystal cell parameters, the analysis of 50 micro area chemical composition and 40 infrared spectra. The garnets were classified through the following methods: crystal cell parameters, infrared spectrum, chemical composition and chemical formula. The results show that the deviations of the crystal cell parameter classification were large, which may incorrect classification. The results of the infrared spectrum classification were inaccurate, but were only used as a reference method. The chemical composition classification provided general results, which could not classify the garnets in detail. The chemical formula classification classified the garnets into six mineral types: magnesium calcium iron-aluminum chromium iron garnet, magnesium iron calcium-aluminum chromium iron garnet, magnesium calcium iron-aluminum chrome garnet, magnesium calcium-aluminum chromium iron magnesium garnet, magnesium iron calcium-aluminum chromium garnet, magnesium iron calcium-aluminum iron chromium garnet. Each type of garnet reflected A and B ion species and occupation characteristics, which was the most scientific classification method. The results of this research indicate that the A end member ingredient was Mg²⁺ ion primarily and B was Al³⁺ ion for the garnets in the kimberlites of the Wafangdian diamond mining area. Due to the common cationic replacement and complex compositions of A and B end members, it was concluded that there is no pyrope in the Wafangdian kimberlites.