Temporal and Geochemical Evolution of Kimberlite Magmatism in Finland
Channel: The Royal Society of Victoria
Date: 20/08/2020

This study provides the first comprehensive petrographic, geochemical and geochronological assessment of kimberlite magmatism across Finland, revealing new features of kimberlite evolution not reported on ‘better-studied’ cratons in Africa, America and Siberia. For example, it had not been shown that small-scale heterogeneities in the mantle lithosphere could cause statistically significant differences in compositions of individual kimberlites within a single field. The presence of any spatio-temporal relationship(s) between tectonic processes and the emplacement of kimberlites can only be elucidated with accurate geochronological constraints. This study provides detailed insights into the benefits and pitfalls of the most widely-applied dating techniques and offers recommendations on best-practice for dating the emplacement of these important magmas. It shows that there are important relationships between tectonic processes (supercontinent cycles) and kimberlite magmatism.

Hayden Dalton is a final year PhD candidate with the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne. This presentation "Temporal and Geochemical Evolution of Kimberlite Magmatism in Finland" comprises his entry to the Earth Sciences category of the Young Scientist Research Prizes in 2020, an annual competition conducted by the Royal Society of Victoria during National Science Week in Australia. Hayden is the joint First Prize winner of this category along with Megan Withers.

Due to Stage Four lockdown conditions in Victoria in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this presentation was necessarily filmed on 13 August, 2020 and presented to judges at the Royal Society of Victoria on the evening 19 August, 2020, both via video conference.