Diamond formation by carbon saturation in C–O–H fluids during cold subduction of oceanic lithosphere

Microdiamonds in garnet of graphite-free ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rocks from Lago di Cignana (western Alps, Italy) represent the first occurrence of diamond in a low-temperature subduction complex of oceanic origin (T = ∼600 °C; P ⩾ 3.2 GPa). The presence of diamonds in fluid inclusions provides evidence for carbon transport and precipitation in an oxidized H2O-rich C–O–H crustal fluid buffered by mineral equilibria at sub-arc...