Statistical microthermometry of synthetic fluid inclusions in quartz during decompression reequilibration

Fluid inclusion microthermometric data are often reported as homogenization temperature frequency histograms. Interpretation of such histograms for a single fluid inclusion assemblage (FIA) of non-reequilibrated fluid inclusions is usually straightforward and provides an accurate determination of the original density (Th) of that FIA. However, interpretation of such histograms for reequilibrated inclusions is more problematic. Decompression experiments using synthetic inclusions in natural quartz and conducted at 2–5 kbar and 600–700 °C with a maximum internal overpressure of 2 kbar indicate that histogram shape reflects the sample's P-T history. Our results further indicate that the mean, mode, range, standard deviation, extreme values, etc., all have a significance with respect to the P-T history of the sample. Thus, a mound-shaped, unimodal histogram with low range is indicative of a nearly isochoric cooling P-T path. A unimodal histogram that is slightly skewed to the right, and with a low standard deviation but high range, results from inclusion deformation in the plastic regime (high temperature/low strain rates). Fluid inclusions deformed plastically show no correlation between size and density. Histogram outliers should not be ignored and may be used to determine an isochore that passes close to the conditions of entrapment (minimum Th) or close to the final reequilibration conditions (maximum Th). The histogram mean Th value corresponds to an isochore that represents the internal overpressure (about 1 kbar) that can be maintained over geologic time by a majority of reequilibrated fluid inclusions. A multimodal histogram with high range and high standard deviation indicates inclusion brittle deformation (low temperature/high strain environments). Fluid inclusions deformed in a brittle manner show strong positive correlation between size and density. Histograms produced in the laboratory show many similarities to histograms for natural samples, offering the hope that laboratory results may be used to interpret P-T histories of natural samples. Received: 20 May 1997 / Accepted: 3 April 1998