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Partial melting of magnesite-bearing peridotites was studied at 6–10 GPa and 1300–1700°C. Experiments were performed in a multianvil apparatus using natural mineral mixes as starting material placed into olivine containers and sealed in Pt capsules. Partial melts originated within the peridotite layer, migrated outside the olivine container and formed pools of quenched melts along the wall of the Pt capsule. This allowed the analysis of even small melt fractions. Iron loss was not a problem, because the platinum near the olivine container became saturated in Fe as a result of the reaction Fe2SiO4Ol = FeFe–Pt alloy + FeSiO3Opx + O2. This reaction led to a gradual increase in oxygen fugacity within the capsules as expressed, for example, in high Fe3+ in garnet. Carbonatitic to kimberlite-like melts were obtained that coexist with olivine + orthopyroxene + garnet ± clinopyroxene ± magnesite depending on P–T conditions. Kinetic experiments and a comparison of the chemistry of phases occasionally grown within the melt pools with those in the residual peridotite allowed us to conclude that the melts had approached equilibrium with peridotite. Melts in equilibrium with a magnesite-bearing garnet lherzolite are rich in CaO (20–25 wt %) at all pressures and show rather low MgO and SiO2 contents (20 and 10 wt %, respectively). Melts in equilibrium with a magnesite-bearing garnet harzburgite are richer in SiO2 and MgO. The contents of these oxides increase with temperature, whereas the CaO content becomes lower. Melts from magnesite-free experiments are richer in SiO2, but remain silicocarbonatitic. Partitioning of trace elements between melt and garnet was studied in several experiments at 6 and 10 GPa. The melts are very rich in incompatible elements, including large ion lithophile elements (LILE), Nb, Ta and light rare earth elements. Relative to the residual peridotite, the melts show no significant depletion in high field strength elements over LILE. We conclude from the major and trace element characteristics of our experimental melts that primitive kimberlites cannot be a direct product of single-stage melting of an asthenospheric mantle. They rather must be derived from a previously depleted and re-enriched mantle peridotite.