Definition of kimberlite

An ultramafic volcanic rock, dominated by olivine, phlogopite and diopside +/- garnet, commonly highly serpentinized, porphyritic, and brecciated, which occurs in vertical pipes, dikes, and sills. It is the principal primary host for diamonds, but only a small percentage of the known kimberlite occurrences are diamondiferous. The name is derived from Kimberley, South Africa.



See Also: blue ground, yellow ground