Carbonatites are redefined using a mineralogical-genetic classification and divided into two groups: primary carbonatites, and carbothermal residua. Attention is drawn to the fact that carbonatite is both a petrographic term applicable to a particular rocktype as well as a group name applied to a complex of related carbonate and silicate rocks in a magmatic or extrusive complex. Primary carbonatites, in terms of mineralogical-genetic classifications, rather than simple modal classifications, can be divided into a group of bona fide magmatic carbonatites formed from diverse mantle-derived magmas, i.e., carbonatites associated with the melilitite, nephelinite, aillikite and kimberlite clans, with the latter best being termed calcite kimberlites. Each magma type and associated carbonatites are considered to be genetically distinct, and formed at different depths in the upper mantle by different degrees of partial melting. Carbonatites associated with the melilitite and nephelinite clans can have a multiplicity of origins, and may be formed by fractional melting, fractional crystallization or liquid immiscibility. Calcite kimberlites are smallvolume late-forming differentiates that are not related to other carbonatites or their parental magmas. The origin and genetic relationships of the Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatite cannot be unambiguously determined, although these rocks are regarded as a distinct variety of primary carbonatite. Carbonate-rich rocks associated with diverse potassic or sodic peralkaline saturated to undersaturated magmas derived predominantly from metasomatized lithospheric mantle, together with REE-carbonate-rich rocks of undetermined genesis, are best termed carbothermal residua rather than carbonatite. There can be mineralogical (or modal) convergence between these rocks and low-pressure REE-rich derivatives of bona fide primary carbonatites. Carbonate-rich rocks formed by pneumatolytic reactions or anatectic melting of crustal rocks should not be considered to be carbonatites. soMMAIRe Le clan des carbonatites est ici redéfini dans le contexte d'une classification minéralogique et génétique, et subdivisé en deux groupes: carbonatites primaires et résidus carbothermaux. On souligne le fait que "carbonatite" est à la fois un terme pétrographique applicable à un type de roche particulier, et un terme faisant référence à un groupe de roches, et appliqué à des roches carbonatées and silicatées génétiquement liées dans un complexe magmatique ou extrusif. On peut diviser les carbonatites primaires, en termes de classifications minéralogiques et génétiques plutôt que de simples classifications modales, en un groupe de carbonatites véritablement magmatiques formées à partir de divers magmas mantelliques, i.e., carbonatites associées aux clans de mélilitite, néphélinite, aillikite et kimberlite, avec ces dernières manifestations préférablement appelées kimberlites à calcite. Chaque type de magma et les carbonatites associées seraient génétiquement distincts, et formées à des profondeurs différentes du ...
