Evidence for extreme fractionation of peralkaline silicic magmas, the Boseti volcanic complex, main Ethiopian Rift

Natural carbon nanofibers have been found in diamond-bearing carbonatites from the Chagatay trachyte-carbonatite complex (Uzbekistan) and described using a series of methods, including SEM, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy. The carbon nanofibers occur as tight aggregates within the host graphite, forming natural bulk nano-structural intergrowths. This is the first description of such carbon nanofibers either in nature or in the laboratory. The data from this study suggest a new possible means of diamond formation. These carbon intergrowths could potentially be used as a model for the fabrication of new types of carbon nanostructural material.