Why diamonds' kimberlite pipes pop up where they do...

[Nik_SpeakerToCats]

Kimberlite is doubly weird, partly because it rapidly fountains diamonds from deep within earth, but mostly because their 'pipes' usually pop up in middle of ancient cratons, very old mini-plates that often form the heart of continents. These cratons are generally so thick and tough, that 'ordinary' volcanic stuff goes around...

Seems there's now an explanation for why kimberlites may take the hard way, straight up the middle...
Convenient explanation:
https://www.livescience.com/planet-eart ... s-break-up
Referenced 'Nature' article: Open Source !!! But save / print blocked... {Spit !!}
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586- ... cience.com

I'll need to read both several times more, but my amateur take is process is sorta-akin to 'back-arc spreading' beyond a subduction zone. There, the rising plume of 'melt' sets up and drives a double convective cell whose dynamics may migrate it 'inland', away from the subduction.

Looks like similar happens here, but driven by the cooling wings of convective cell feeding spreading zone. pushing the cratons apart...

Think those oft-enduring 'islands' on volcanic 'lava lakes'...

Where this down-flow meets older, cooler craton roots, instabilities ensue and 'Thar She Blows !!'