Ore Deposits

Techniques for estimating P-T conditions

Fluid inclusions

Fluid inclusion in quartz showing

vapor bubble and halite daughter
crystal

Plane polarized light Crossed polars

Fluid inclusions 1
Ore Deposits

Mechanisms of trapping of primary fluid inclusions

I. Liquid, small vapor, no daughter

II. Liquid, large vapor, no daughter
III. Multiphase, small vapor bubble
IV. Two liquids + vapor
V. Liquid CO2 + vapor

Fluid inclusions 2
Ore Deposits

Environments of formation of fluid inclusions

Generating and using fluid inclusion data

Assumptions:

Determination of composition

Determination of temperature of deposition by heating to homogenization

Determination of salinity by freeze-thaw

Fluid inclusions 3
Ore Deposits

Homogenization of fluid inclusions

Fluid inclusions 4
Ore Deposits

fr a

Primary inclusions
ctu

c axis
controlled by zoning
ep r

vs. secondary
lan

inclusions controlled
e

by fracture planes

26 September 2002 Ore Deposits 12

Fluid inclusions 5
Ore Deposits

Formation of secondary inclusions

Multiple generations of inclusions
Primary
Pseudosecondary
Secondary

Multiple generations of inclusions may

be a significant problem with bulk
methods of analysis

27 September 2002 Ore Deposits 13

Problems with fluid inclusions:

Fluid inclusions 6
Ore Deposits

Other methods for establishing P-T limits:

Fluid inclusions 7