Kimberlite source of mined diamonds today. The consensus on kimberlites is that they are formed deep within the mantle. Formation occurs at depths between , potentially from anomalously enriched exotic mantle compositions, and they are erupted rapidly and violently, often with considerable carbon dioxideand other volatile components. It is this depth of melting and generation that makes kimberlites prone to hosting diamond xenocrysts. Despite its relative rarity, kimberlite has attracted attention because it serves as a carrier of diamonds and garnet peridotite mantle xenoliths to the Earth's surface. Its probable derivation from depths greater than any other igneous rock type, and
Buffalo Head Hills kimberlite field Buffalo Head Hills kimberlite field The Buffalo Head Hills kimberlite field is a group of kimberlitic volcanic pipes or diatremes in north-central Alberta, Canada. As of 2011, 41 kimberlite pipes, of which 28 are diamondiferous, had been identified in the field. They were emplaced during Late Cretaceous to early Paleocene time. As of 2014 the Buffalo Head Hills field is in the exploration stage and has not gone into production. The highest grade kimberlite pipe (Pipe K252) has an estimated grade of 55 carats per hundred tonnes. The Buffalo Head Hills (BHH) kimberlite field is part of the Northern Alberta