Diamonds from Borrachudo river, São Francisco basin (Tiros, MG): morphologic and dissolution aspects

• Published in: Rem: Revista Escola de Minas 2014-06, Vol.67 (2), p.159-165
• Main Authors: Borges, Luis Alberto de Deus, Chaves, Mario Luiz de Sá Carneiro, Karfunkel, Joachim
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• Subjects: ENGINEERING, CIVIL; METALLURGY & METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING
• ISSN: 0370-4467; 1807-0353; 0370-4467
• DOI: 10.1590/S0370-44672014000200005

A representative set of diamonds from the Borrachudo River (114 stones) was described for the first time as to their physical characteristics, among them weight, morphology, dissolution figures, and abrasion. Most samples are low in weight (~51% less than 0.30 ct) and only ~3.5% are above 3.0 ct. However, considering the total weight, ~47% of it is concentrated in the range above 3 ct. On the other hand, there even occur diamonds with dozen of carats. The most common crystallographic forms are originated from the octahedral form by dissolution, although irregular shapes like chips and flats also occur. The diamonds show differences in form compared to their weight ranges; those up to 0.30 ct have various shapes; in the range of 0.31 to 1 ct the most common are octahedral forms and their descendants; and in stones larger than 1 ct chips and flats predominate. The general habitus of the crystals, identified by their final tetrahexahedroid shapes, chips and flats, corroborated by the dissolution figures, indicate that the diamond were submitted to strong dissolution in a magmatic environment. Residual hillocks and holes represent the final stage of dissolution. The study indicates that the abrasion by the fluvial transport was not expressive enough to cause mechanical wear, thus ca. 97% shows no sign of wear. This fact suggests a proximal source for most of these diamonds. Uma população representativa de diamantes do rio Borrachudo (114 cristais) é pela primeira vez descrita quanto às suas características físicas, envolvendo peso, morfologia, figuras de dissolução e abrasão. A maioria das amostras possui peso reduzido (~51% inferior a 0,30 ct) e apenas ~3,5% acima de 3,0 ct. No entanto, em relação ao peso total, ~47% concentra-se na faixa de peso acima de 3 ct, sendo observados, ainda, diamantes com dezenas de quilates. As formas cristalográficas mais comuns são oriundas da dissolução da forma original octaédrica, embora formas irregulares como chips e flats também ocorram. Os diamantes apresentam diferenciações quanto às suas formas em relação às faixas de peso; os com até 0,30 ct mostram-se em formas variadas; entre 0,31 a 1 ct ocorrem formas octaédricas e suas descendentes; e, nas amostras maiores que 1 ct, predominam os chips e flats. O habitus geral dos cristais, identificado pelas formas tetraedróides finais, chips e flats, juntamente com as figuras de dissolução, indicam que os diamantes sofreram uma forte dissolução no ambiente magmático. No estágio f