Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World

Setup during HiTech AlkCarb: an online database of alkaline rock and carbonatite occurrences

Sloan Pipe

stripes

Occurrence number: 
174-00-077
Country: 
United States
Region: 
Colorado
Location: 
Longitude: -105.6, Latitude: 40.95
Carbonatite: 
Yes

The Sloan Pipe is one of 19 kimberlite pipes that cluster close to the Colorado-Wyoming boundary (McCallum et al., 1975, Fig. 1). Carbonatite xenoliths are found in several of the pipes but are particularly abundant in the Sloan Pipe. They range from small, angular fragments to rounded blocks up to 25 cm in diameter, which commonly have a rim of serpentine and calcite. The xenoliths consist of variably grained calcite, with subsidiary dolomite; biotite, phlogopite and baryte-rich varieties are the most abundant.

References: 

MCCALLUM, M.E., EGGLER, D.H. and BURNS, L.K. 1975. Kimberlitic diatremes in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. First International Conference on Kimberlites. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 9: 149-61

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith