The occurrence of cebollite in kimberlite and included zeolitized crustal xenoliths

Summary Two different parageneses for cebollite, a rare hydrated calcium aluminium silicate, are described, both differing from all previously reported occurrences. Cebollite forms concomitantly with natrolite from plagioclase in xenoliths of crustal material incorporated in kimberlite. The mineral also occurs as a late stage primary mineral in a phlogopite-rich kimberlite. Tentative models for the genesis of the mineral in the environments described are proposed. It is suggested that the final stages in the crystallization of diatreme-facies kimberlite are dominated by fluids rich in lime and having a low partial pressure of CO2.