Transport properites of kimberlite melt

The physical-chemical properties of kimberlite melt govern the transport and eruption behaviour of kimberlite magmas. However, the physical properties of kimberlitic melts remain unknown, in part, because the composition of the melt phase is poorly constrained (Price et al. 2000; Kopylova et al. 2006; Sparks et al. 2006). As well, the experimental techniques needed to probe these extreme melts for viscosity (!), glass transition temperatures (Tg), heat capacity (Cp), and volatile solubilities are not yet available. Furthermore, the physical properties of kimberlite melts need not be simple linear extrapolations from the properties of other silicate melts (Russell & Giordano 2005). Computational models, calibrated on high quality experimental data, provide a means of exploring the physical properties of silicate melts for which there are no data.

In this presentation we use the current estimates for the range of kimberlite melt compositions (Table 1 & 2; after Price et al. 2000; Sparks et al. 2006; Kopylova et al. 2006). Secondly, we introduce and apply two multicomponent chemical models for predicting specific physical properties of melts in general. These models are designed to predict the calorimetric glass transition temperature and the viscosity of silicate melts as a function of melt composition and are used to explore the corresponding properties of kimberlite melts.