Stratigraphy of the intra-crater volcaniclastic deposits of the Victor Northwest kimberlite, northern Ontario, Canada

The first stage in both cycles comprises a highly explosive eruption involving crater excavation and deposition of pyroclastic kimberlite. The eruption products contain abundant broken olivines, small angular country rock fragments and kimberlite ash. All these features indicate high degrees of fragmentation resulting from high eruption intensities. The high proportion of country rock fragments in these deposits suggests continuous pipe wall erosion. The second stage in both cycles is represented by dark and competent deposits, which have low country rock fragment abundances and mostly intact olivines. Based on contact relationships and textures within these units it is suggested that these rock types are formed by lower energy eruptions, during which no major pipe wall erosion took place. The eruption came to an end during the third and last stage. In both cycles, the uppermost deposits record resedimentation of kimberlite by water. Major pipe wall collapse results in the formation of voluminous sedimentary country rock breccia deposits that cap all previous deposits.