Metamorphic fluid flow in the northeastern part of the 3.8-3.7 Ga Isua Greenstone Belt (SW Greenland): A re-evalution of fluid inclusion evidence for early Archean seafloor-hydrothermal systems

Fluid inclusions in quartz globules and quartz veins of a 3.8-3.7 Ga old, well-preserved pillow lava breccia in the northeastern Isua Greenstone Belt (IGB) were studied using microthermometry, Raman spectrometry and SEM Cathodoluminescence Imaging. Petrographic study of the different quartz segregations showed that they were affected by variable recrystallization which controlled their fluid inclusion content. The oldest unaltered fluid inclusions found are present in vein crystals that survived dynamic and static recrystallization. These crystals contain a cogenetic, immiscible assemblage of CO₂-rich (+H₂O, +graphite) and brine-rich (+CO₂, +halite, +carbonate) inclusions. The gas-rich inclusions have molar volumes between 44.8 and 47.5 cm³/mol, while the brine inclusions have a salinity of ∼33 eq. wt% NaCl. Modeling equilibrium immiscibility using volumetric and compositional properties of the endmember fluids indicates that fluid unmixing occurred at or near peak-metamorphic conditions of ∼460 °C and ∼4 kbar. Carbonate and graphite were precipitated cogenetically from the physically separated endmember fluids and were trapped in fluid inclusions.In most quartz crystals, however, recrystallization obliterated such early fluid inclusion assemblages and left graphite and carbonate as solid inclusions in recrystallized grains. Intragranular fluid inclusion trails in the recrystallized grains of breccia cementing and crosscutting quartz veins have CO₂-rich assemblages, with distinctly different molar volumes (either between 43.7 and 47.5 cm³/mol or between 53.5 and 74.1 cm³/mol), and immiscible, halite-saturated H₂O-CO₂-NaCl(-other salt) inclusions. Later intergranular trails have CH₄-H₂ (X_H2 up to ∼0.3) inclusions of variable density (ranging from 48.0 to >105.3 cm³/mol) and metastable H₂O-NaCl(-other salt?) brines (∼28 eq. wt% NaCl). Finally, the youngest fluid inclusion assemblages are found in non-luminescent secondary quartz and contain low-density CH₄ (molar volume > 105.33 cm³/mol) and low-salinity H₂O-NaCl (0.2-3.7 eq. wt% NaCl). These successive fluid inclusion assemblages record a retrograde P-T evolution close to a geothermal gradient of ∼30 °C/km, but also indicate fluid pressure variations and the introduction of highly reducing fluids at ∼200-300 °C and 0.5-2 kbar. The quartz globules in the pillow fragments only contain sporadic CH₄(+H₂) and brine inclusions, corresponding with the late generations present in the cementing and crosscutting veins. We argue that due to the large extent of static recrystallization in quartz globules in the pillow breccia fragments, only these relatively late fluid inclusions have been preserved, and that they do not represent remnants of an early, seafloor-hydrothermal system as was previously proposed.Modeling the oxidation state of the fluids indicates a rock buffered system at peak-metamorphic conditions, but suggests a change towards fluid-graphite disequilibrium and a logf_H2/f_H2O above the Quartz-Fayalite-Magnetite buffer during retrograde evolution. Most likely, this indicates a control on redox conditions and on fluid speciation by ultramafic rocks in the IGB.Finally, this study shows that microscopic solid graphite in recrystallized metamorphic rocks from Isua can be deposited inorganically from a fluid phase, adding to the complexity of processes that formed reduced carbon in the oldest, well-preserved supracrustal rocks on Earth.     

Solubilities of corundum, wollastonite and quartz in H2O-NaCl solutions at 800 °C and 10 kbar: Interaction of simple minerals with brines at high pressure and temperature

Solubilities of corundum (Al₂O₃) and wollastonite (CaSiO₃) were measured in H₂O-NaCl solutions at 800 °C and 10 kbar and NaCl concentrations up to halite saturation by weight-loss methods. Additional data on quartz solubility at a single NaCl concentration were obtained as a supplement to previous work. Single crystals of synthetic corundum, natural wollastonite or natural quartz were equilibrated with H₂O and NaCl at pressure (P) and temperature (T) in a piston-cylinder apparatus with NaCl pressure medium and graphite heater sleeves. The three minerals show fundamentally different dissolution behavior. Corundum solubility undergoes large enhancement with NaCl concentration, rising rapidly from Al₂O₃ molality (m_Al2O3) of 0.0013(1) (1σ error) in pure H₂O and then leveling off to a maximum of ∼0.015 at halite saturation (X_NaCl ≈ 0.58, where X is mole fraction). Solubility enhancement relative to that in pure H₂O, , passes through a maximum at X_NaCl ≈ 0.15 and then declines towards halite saturation. Quenched fluids have neutral pH at 25 °C. Wollastonite has low solubility in pure H₂O at this P and T(m_CaSiO3=0.0167(6)). It undergoes great enhancement, with a maximum solubility relative to that in H₂O at X_NaCl ≈ 0.33, and solubility >0.5 molal at halite saturation. Solute silica is 2.5 times higher than at quartz saturation in the system H₂O-NaCl-SiO₂, and quenched fluids are very basic (pH 11). Quartz shows monotonically decreasing solubility from m_SiO2=1.248 in pure H₂O to 0.202 at halite saturation. Quenched fluids are pH neutral. A simple ideal-mixing model for quartz-saturated solutions that requires as input only the solubility and speciation of silica in pure H₂O reproduces the data and indicates that hydrogen bonding of molecular H₂O to dissolved silica species is thermodynamically negligible. The maxima in for corundum and wollastonite indicate that the solute products include hydrates and Na⁺ and/or Cl⁻ species produced by molar ratios of reactant H₂O to NaCl of 6:1 and 2:1, respectively. Our results imply that quite simple mechanisms may exist in the dissolution of common rock-forming minerals in saline fluids at high P and T and allow assessment of the interaction of simple, congruently soluble rock-forming minerals with brines associated with deep-crustal metamorphism.     

Solubility of grossular, Ca3Al2Si3O12, in H2O-NaCl solutions at 800 °C and 10 kbar, and the stability of garnet in the system CaSiO3-Al2O3-H2O-NaCl

The solubility and stability of synthetic grossular were determined at 800 °C and 10 kbar in NaCl-H₂O solutions over a large range of salinity. The measurements were made by evaluating the weight losses of grossular, corundum, and wollastonite crystals equilibrated with fluid for up to one week in Pt capsules and a piston-cylinder apparatus. Grossular dissolves congruently over the entire salinity range and displays a large solubility increase of 0.0053 to 0.132 molal Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ with increasing NaCl mole fraction (X_NaCl) from 0 to 0.4. There is thus a solubility enhancement 25 times the pure H₂O value over the investigated range, indicating strong solute interaction with NaCl. The Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ mole fraction versus NaCl mole fraction curve has a broad plateau between X_NaCl = 0.2 and 0.4, indicating that the solute products are hydrous; the enhancement effect of NaCl interaction is eventually overtaken by the destabilizing effect of lowering H₂O activity. In this respect, the solubility behavior of grossular in NaCl solutions is similar to that of corundum and wollastonite. There is a substantial field of stability of grossular at 800 °C and 10 kbar in the system CaSiO₃-Al₂O₃-H₂O-NaCl. At high Al₂O₃/CaSiO₃ bulk compositions the grossular + fluid field is limited by the appearance of corundum. Zoisite appears metastably with corundum in initially pure H₂O, but disappears once grossular is nucleated. At X_NaCl = 0.3, however, zoisite is stable with corundum and fluid; this is the only departure from the quaternary system encountered in this study. Corundum solubility is very high in solutions containing both NaCl and CaSiO₃: Al₂O₃ molality increases from 0.0013 in initially pure H₂O to near 0.15 at X_NaCl = 0.4 in CaSiO₃-saturated solutions, a >100-fold enhancement. In contrast, addition of Al₂O₃ to wollastonite-saturated NaCl solutions increases CaSiO₃ molality by only 12%. This suggests that at high pH (quench pH is 11-12), the stability of solute Ca chloride and Na-Al ± Si complexes account for high Al₂O₃ solubility, and that Ca-Al ± Si complexes are minor. The high solubility and basic dissolution reaction of grossular suggest that Al may be a very mobile component in calcareous rocks in the deep crust and upper mantle when migrating saline solutions are present.     

Thermodynamic modeling of binary CH4-H2O fluid inclusions

This work reports the application of thermodynamic models, including equations of state, to binary (salt-free) CH₄-H₂O fluid inclusions. A general method is presented to calculate the compositions of CH₄-H₂O inclusions using the phase volume fractions and dissolution temperatures of CH₄ hydrate. To calculate the homogenization pressures and isolines of the CH₄-H₂O inclusions, an improved activity-fugacity model is developed to predict the vapor-liquid phase equilibrium. The phase equilibrium model can predict methane solubility in the liquid phase and water content in the vapor phase from 273 to 623 K and from 1 to 1000 bar (up to 2000 bar for the liquid phase), within or close to experimental uncertainties. Compared to reliable experimental phase equilibrium data, the average deviation of the water content in the vapor phase and methane solubility in the liquid phase is 4.29% and 3.63%, respectively. In the near-critical region, the predicted composition deviations increase to over 10%. The vapor-liquid phase equilibrium model together with the updated volumetric model of homogenous (single-phase) CH₄-H₂O fluid mixtures (Mao S., Duan Z., Hu J. and Zhang D. (2010) A model for single-phase PVTx properties of CO₂-CH₄-C₂H₆-N₂-H₂O-NaCl fluid mixtures from 273 to 1273 K and from 1 to 5000 bar. Chem. Geol.275, 148-160), is applied to calculate the isolines, homogenization pressures, homogenization volumes, and isochores at specified homogenization temperatures and compositions. Online calculation is on the website: http://www.geochem-model.org/.     

A thermodynamic model for calculating methane solubility, density and gas phase composition of methane-bearing aqueous fluids from 273 to 523 K and from 1 to 2000 bar

A thermodynamic model is presented to calculate methane solubility, liquid phase density and gas phase composition of the H₂O-CH₄ and H₂O-CH₄-NaCl systems from 273 to 523 K (possibly up to 573 K), from 1 to 2000 bar and from 0 to 6 mol kg⁻¹ of NaCl with experimental accuracy. By a more strict theoretical approach and using updated experimental data, this model made substantial improvements over previous models: (1) the accuracy of methane solubility in pure water in the temperature range between 273 and 283 K is increased from about 10% to about 5%, but confirms the accuracy of the Duan model [Duan Z., Moller N., Weare J.H., 1992a. Prediction of methane solubilities in natural waters to high ionic strength from 0 to 250 °C and from 0 to 1600 bar. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta56, 1451-1460] above 283 K up to 2000 bar; (2) the accuracy of methane solubility in the NaCl aqueous solutions is increased from >12% to about 6% on average from 273 K and 1 bar to 523 K and 2000 bar; (3) this model is able to calculate water content in the gas phase and liquid phase density, which cannot be calculated by previous models; and (4) it covers a wider range of temperature and pressure space. With a simple approach, this model is extended to predict CH₄ solubility in other aqueous salt solutions containing Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ and , such as seawater and geothermal brines, with excellent accuracy. This model is also able to calculate homogenization pressure of fluid inclusions (CH₄-H₂O-NaCl) and CH₄ solubility in water at gas-liquid-hydrate phase equilibrium. A computer code is developed for this model and can be downloaded from the website: www.geochem-model.org/programs.htm.     

Chlorine-rich metasomatic H2O-CO2 fluids in amphibole-bearing peridotites from Injibara (Lake Tana region, Ethiopian plateau): Nature and evolution of volatiles in the mantle of a region of continental flood basalts

Petrological and geochemical study of volatile bearing phases (fluid inclusions, amphibole, and nominally anhydrous minerals) in a spinel lherzolite xenolith suite from Quaternary lavas at Injibara (Lake Tana region, Ethiopian plateau) shows compelling evidence for metasomatism in the lithospheric mantle in a region of mantle upwelling and continental flood basalts. The xenolith suite consists of deformed (i.e., protogranular to porphyroclastic texture) Cl-rich pargasite lherzolites, metasomatized (LILE and Pb enrichment in clinopyroxene and amphibole) at T ? 1000 °C. Lherzolites contain chlorine-rich H₂O-CO₂ fluid inclusions, but no melt inclusions. Fluid inclusions are preserved only in orthopyroxene, while in olivine, they underwent extensive interaction with the host mineral. The metasomatic fluid composition is estimated: X_CO2 = 0.64, X_H2O = 0.33, X_Na = 0.006, X_Mg = 0.006, X_Cl = 0.018, (salinity = 14-10 NaCl eq. wt.%, a_H2O = 0.2, Cl = 4-5 mol.%). Fluid isochores correspond to trapping pressures of 1.4-1.5 GPa or 50-54 km depth (at T = 950 °C). Synchrotron sourced micro-infrared mapping (ELECTRA, Trieste) shows gradients for H₂O-distribution in nominally anhydrous minerals, with considerable enrichment at grain boundaries, along intragranular microfractures, and around fluid inclusions. Total water amounts in lherzolites are variable from about 150 up to 400 ppm. Calculated trace-element pattern of metasomatic fluid phases, combined with distribution and amount of H₂O in nominally anhydrous minerals, delineate a metasomatic Cl- and LILE-rich fluid phase heterogeneously distributed in the continental lithosphere. Present data suggest that Cl-rich aqueous fluids were important metasomatic agents beneath the Ethiopian plateau, locally forming a source of high water content in the peridotite, which may be easily melted. High Cl, LILE, and Pb in metasomatic fluid phases suggest the contribution of recycled altered oceanic lithosphere component in their source.     

Solubility of plutonium(VI) carbonate in saline solutions

Among the plutonium oxidation states found to form in the environment, mobile plutonium(VI) can exist under oxidizing conditions and in waters with high chloride content due to radiolysis effects. We are investigating the solubility and speciation of plutonium(VI) carbonate under conditions relevant to natural waters and brines such as those found near some geologic radioactive waste repositories. The solid Pu(VI) phase PuO₂CO₃(s) was prepared and its solubility was measured in NaCl and NaClO₄ solutions in a CO₂ atmosphere as a function of pH and ionic strength (0.1-5.6 m). The concentration of soluble plutonium in solution was calculated from spectroscopic data and liquid scintillation counting. Spectroscopic measurements also revealed the plutonium oxidation state. The apparent solubility product of PuO₂CO₃(s) was determined at selected electrolyte concentrations to be, log K_s,0 = −13.95 ± 0.07 (0.1 m NaCl), log K_s,0 = −14.07 ± 0.13 (5.6 m NaCl), and log K_s,0 = −15.26 ± 0.11 (5.6 m NaClO₄). Specific ion interaction theory was used to calculate the solubility product at zero ionic strength, .     

The solubility of molybdenum dioxide and trioxide in HCl-bearing water vapour at 350 °C and pressures up to 160 bars

The solubility and speciation of the assemblage MoO₂-MoO₃ in water vapour were investigated in experiments conducted at 350 °C, P_total from 59 to 160 bar and fHCl from 0 to 3.4 bar (0-2.0 mol%). Measured solubility at these conditions ranges from 22 to 2500 ppm (∑fMo from 4.4 × 10⁻⁴ to 6.5 × 10⁻² bar). The concentration of Mo in the vapour at fHCl below 0.1 bar is similar to that in pure water vapour, but increases by two orders of magnitude at fHCl above 0.1 bar. The fugacity of gaseous Mo species is independent of chloride concentration at fHCl below 0.1 bar, but increases with increasing fHCl above this pressure. The dominant Mo species at fHCl below 0.1 bar is interpreted to be the same as it is in pure water vapour, and to form as a result of the reaction

(A1)     

The system H2O-NaCl. Part I: Correlation formulae for phase relations in temperature-pressure-composition space from 0 to 1000 °C, 0 to 5000 bar, and 0 to 1 XNaCl

Realistic simulations of fluid flow in geologic systems have severely been hampered by the lack of a consistent formulation for fluid properties for binary salt-water fluids over the temperature-pressure-composition ranges encountered in the Earth’s crust. As the first of two companion studies, a set of correlations describing the phase stability relations in the system H₂O-NaCl is developed. Pure water is described by the IAPS-84 equation of state. New correlations comprise the vapor pressure of halite and molten NaCl, the NaCl melting curve, the composition of halite-saturated liquid and vapor, the pressure of vapor + liquid + halite coexistence, the temperature-pressure and temperature-composition relations for the critical curve, and the compositions of liquid and vapor on the vapor + liquid coexistence surface. The correlations yield accurate values for temperatures from 0 to 1000 °C, pressures from 0 to 5000 bar, and compositions from 0 to 1 X_NaCl (mole fraction of NaCl). To facilitate their use in fluid flow simulations, the correlations are entirely formulated as functions of temperature, pressure and composition.     

An in situ XAS study of copper(I) transport as hydrosulfide complexes in hydrothermal solutions (25-592 °C, 180-600 bar): Speciation and solubility in vapor and liquid phases

Chloride and hydrosulfide are the principal ligands assumed to govern transport of copper in hydrothermal fluids. Existing solubility experiments suggest that Cu(I)-hydrosulfide complexes are dominant compared to chloride complexes at low salinities in alkaline solutions (H₂S_(aq)/HS⁻ pH buffer), and may be important in transporting Cu in low density magmatic vapors, potentially controlling the liquid-vapor partitioning of Cu. This study provides the first in situ evidence of the solubility of copper sulfides and the nature and structure of the predominant Cu species in sulfur-containing fluids at temperatures up to 592 °C and pressures of 180-600 bar. XANES and EXAFS data show that at elevated T (?200 °C), Cu solubility occurs via a linear Cu complex. At 428 °C in alkaline solutions, Cu is coordinated by two sulfur atoms in a distorted linear coordination (angle ∼150-160°). This geometry is consistent with the species predicted by earlier solubility studies. In addition, in situ measurements of the solubility of chalcocite in 2 m NaHS solutions performed in this study are in remarkably good agreement with the solubilities calculated using available thermodynamic data for Cu(I)-hydrosulfide complexes, also supporting the interpretation of speciation in these studies and validating the extrapolation of low-T thermodynamic properties for to high P-T. Data on phase separation for the 2 m NaHS solution show that while significant amounts of copper can be partitioned into the vapor phase, there is no indication for preferential partitioning of Cu into the vapor. This is consistent with recent partitioning experiments conducted in autoclaves by Pokrovski et al. (2008a) and Simon et al. (2006). XANES data suggest that the species present in the low density phase is very similar to that present in the high density liquid, i.e., , although Cu(HS)(H₂S)⁰ cannot be excluded on the basis of XAS data.     

Metallogenesis and hydrothermal evolution of the Tonggou Cu deposit in the Eastern Tianshan: Evidence from fluid inclusions,H-O-S isotopes,and Re-Os geochronology

The Tonggou Cu polymetallic deposit in the Bogda Orogenic Belt, Eastern Tianshan shows evidence for three stages of hydrothermal mineralization: early pyrite veins (Stage 1), polymetallic sulfide ± epidote–quartz (Stage 2), and late-stage pyrite–calcite veins (Stage 3). Fluid inclusion petrography and microthermometry analyses indicate that the liquid-rich aqueous inclusions (L), vapour-rich aqueous inclusions (V), and NaCl daughter mineral–bearing three phase inclusions (S) formed during the main stage of mineralization, and that the ore fluids represent high-temperature and high-salinity H₂O-NaCl hydrothermal fluids that underwent boiling. Stable isotope (H, O) data indicate that the ore fluids of the Tonggou deposit were originally derived from magmatic water in Stage 2 and subsequently mixed with local meteoric water during Stage 3. Sulphur isotope compositions (6.7‰ to 10.9‰) are consistent with the δ³⁴S values of pyrite from the Qijiaojing Formation sandstone, indicating the primary source of the sulphur ore. Furthermore, chalcopyrite grains separated from the chalcopyrite-rich ore samples yield an isochron age of 303 ± 12 Ma (MSWD = 1.2). These results indicate that the Tonggou deposit is a transition between high–sulfidation and porphyry deposits which formed in the Late Carboniferous. It also suggests an increased likelihood for the occurrence of Cu (Au, Mo) in the Bogda Orogenic Belt, especially at locations where the Cu-Zn deposits are thicker; further deep drilling and exploration are encouraged in these areas.     

Coupled phase and aqueous species equilibrium of the H2O-CO2-NaCl-CaCO3 system from 0 to 250 °C, 1 to 1000 bar with NaCl concentrations up to saturation of halite

A model is developed for the calculation of coupled phase and aqueous species equilibrium in the H₂O-CO₂-NaCl-CaCO₃ system from 0 to 250 °C, 1 to 1000 bar with NaCl concentrations up to saturation of halite. The vapor-liquid-solid (calcite, halite) equilibrium together with the chemical equilibrium of H⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, , Ca(OH)⁺, OH⁻, Cl⁻, , , CO_2(aq) and CaCO_3(aq) in the aqueous liquid phase as a function of temperature, pressure, NaCl concentrations, CO_2(aq) concentrations can be calculated, with accuracy close to those of experiments in the stated T-P-m range, hence calcite solubility, CO₂ gas solubility, alkalinity and pH values can be accurately calculated. The merit and advantage of this model is its predictability, the model was generally not constructed by fitting experimental data.One of the focuses of this study is to predict calcite solubility, with accuracy consistent with the works in previous experimental studies. The resulted model reproduces the following: (1) as temperature increases, the calcite solubility decreases. For example, when temperature increases from 273 to 373 K, calcite solubility decreases by about 50%; (2) with the increase of pressure, calcite solubility increases. For example, at 373 K changing pressure from 10 to 500 bar may increase calcite solubility by as much as 30%; (3) dissolved CO₂ can increase calcite solubility substantially; (4) increasing concentration of NaCl up to 2 m will increase calcite solubility, but further increasing NaCl solubility beyond 2 m will decrease its solubility.The functionality of pH value, alkalinity, CO₂ gas solubility, and the concentrations of many aqueous species with temperature, pressure and NaCl_(aq) concentrations can be found from the application of this model. Online calculation is made available on www.geochem-model.org/models/h2o_co2_nacl_caco3/calc.php.     

Synthetic fluid inclusions in natural quartz. III. Determination of phase equilibrium properties in the system H2O-NaCl to 1000°C and 1500 bars

Phase equilibria in the system H₂O-NaCl have been determined to 1000°C and 1500 bars using synthetic fluid inclusions formed by healing fractures in inclusion-free Brazilian quartz in the presence of the two coexisting, immiscible H₂O-NaCl fluids at various temperatures and pressures. Petrographic and microthermometric analyses indicate that the inclusions trapped one or the other of the two fluids present, or mixtures of the two. Salinities of the two coexisting phases were obtained from heating and freezing studies on those inclusions which trapped only a single, homogeneous fluid phase.Results of the present study are consistent with previously published data on the H₂O-NaCl system at lower temperatures and pressures, and indicate that the two-phase field extends well into the P-T range of most shallow magmatic-hydrothermal activity. As a consequence, chloride brines exsolved from many epizonal plutons during the process of “second-boiling” should immediately separate into a high-salinity liquid phase and a lower salinity vapor phase and produce coexisting halite-bearing and vapor-rich fluid inclusions. This observation is consistent with results of numerous fluid inclusion studies of ore deposits associated with shallow intrusions, particularly the porphyry copper deposits, in which halite-bearing and coexisting vapor-rich inclusions are commonly associated with the earliest stages of magmatic-hydrothermal activity.     

Phase relations in the CH4-H2O-NaCl system at 2 kbar, 300 to 600°C as determined using synthetic fluid inclusions

Synthesis of fluid inclusions in the CH₄-H₂O-NaCl system was accomplished by subjecting fractured quartz or fluorite, along with known quantities of CH₄, H₂O, and NaCl, to a pressure of 2 kbar and temperatures of 300, 400, 500, or 600°C, in sealed Au capsules. Under the elevated P-T conditions, some of the fractures healed, trapping fluids as inclusions. Microthermometric measurements conducted on the fluid inclusions show that at 2 kbar and 400 to 600°C, there are very broad regions of fluid unmixing in the CH₄-H₂O-NaCl system. For those bulk fluid compositions that lie in the two-phase (i.e., immiscible fluids) field, the high-density phase is enriched in NaCl, whereas the low-density phase is enriched in CH₄. For any given bulk composition, the degree of NaCl enrichment in the high-density phase increases, whereas the degree of CH₄ enrichment in the low-density phase decreases, as temperature increases from 400 to 600°C. Our experimental constraints on the size of the two-phase field are generally consistent with results generated using the equation-of-state GEOFLUIDS (available at http://geotherm.ucsd.edu/geofluids/). However, when comparing the compositions of coexisting immiscible fluids, as determined experimentally vs. calculated using GEOFLUIDS, we find that some relatively small but probably significant differences exist between our experiments and this equation of state.     

Temperature dependence of sulfide and sulfate solubility in olivine-saturated basaltic magmas

The sulfur concentration at pyrrhotite- and anhydrite-saturation in primitive hydrous basaltic melt of the 2001-2002 eruption of Mt. Etna was determined at 200 MPa, T = 1050-1250 °C and at log fO₂ from FMQ to FMQ+2.2 (FMQ is Fayalite-Magnetite-Quartz oxygen buffer). At 1050 °C Au sample containers were used. A double-capsule technique, using a single crystal olivine sample container closed with an olivine piston, embedded in a sealed Au₈₀Pd₂₀ capsule, was developed to perform experiments in S-bearing hydrous basaltic systems at T > 1050 °C. Pyrrhotite is found to be a stable phase coexisting with melt at FMQ-FMQ+0.3, whereas anhydrite is stable at FMQ+1.4-FMQ+2.2. The S concentration in the melt increases almost linearly from 0.12 ± 0.01 to 0.39 ± 0.02 wt.% S at FeS-saturation and from 0.74 ± 0.01 to 1.08 ± 0.04 wt.% S at anhydrite-saturation with T ranging from 1050-1250 °C. The relationships between S concentration at pyrrhotite and/or anhydrite saturation, MgO content of the olivine-saturated melt, T, and log fO₂ observed in this study and from previous data are used to develop an empirical model for estimating the magmatic T and fO₂ from the S and MgO concentrations of H₂O-bearing olivine-saturated basaltic melts. The model can also be used to determine maximum S concentrations, if fO₂ and MgO content of the melt are known. The application of the model to compositions of melt inclusions in olivines from Mt. Etna indicates that the most primitive magmas trapped in inclusions might have been stored at log fO₂ slightly higher than FMQ+1 and at T = 1100-1150 °C, whereas more evolved melts could have been trapped at T ? 1100 °C. These values are in a good agreement with the estimates obtained by other independent methods reported in the literature.     

Copper partitioning in a melt-vapor-brine-magnetite-pyrrhotite assemblage

The effect of sulfur on the partitioning of Cu in a melt-vapor-brine ± magnetite ± pyrrhotite assemblage has been quantified at 800 °C, 140 MPa, f_O2 = nickel-nickel oxide (NNO), logf_S2=-3.0 (i.e., on the magnetite-pyrrhotite curve at NNO), logf_H2S=-1.3 and logf_SO2=-1. All experiments were vapor + brine saturated. Vapor and brine fluid inclusions were trapped in silicate glass and self-healed quartz fractures. Vapor and brine are dominated by NaCl, KCl and HCl in the S-free runs and NaCl, KCl and FeCl₂ in S-bearing runs. Pyrrhotite served as the source of sulfur in S-bearing experiments. The composition of fluid inclusions, glass and crystals were quantified by laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Major element, chlorine and sulfur concentrations in glass were quantified by using electron probe microanalysis. Calculated Nernst-type partition coefficients (±2σ) for Cu between melt-vapor, melt-brine and vapor-brine are , , and , respectively, in the S-free system. The partition coefficients (±2σ) for Cu between melt-vapor, melt-brine and vapor-brine are , , and , respectively, in the S-bearing system. Apparent equilibrium constants (±1σ) describing Cu and Na exchange between vapor and melt and brine and melt were also calculated. The values of are 34 ± 21 and 128 ± 29 in the S-free and S-bearing runs, respectively. The values of are 33 ± 22 and60 ± 5 in the S-free and S-bearing runs, respectively. The data presented here indicate that the presence of sulfur increases the mass transfer of Cu into vapor from silicate melt. Further, the nearly threefold increase in suggests that Cu may be transported as both a chloride and sulfide complex in magmatic vapor, in agreement with hypotheses based on data from natural systems. Most significantly, the data demonstrate that the presence of sulfur enhances the partitioning of Cu from melt into magmatic volatile phases.     

An experimental study of the solubility of molybdenum in H2O and KCl-H2O solutions from 500 °C to 800 °C, and 150 to 300 MPa

The solubility of molybdenum (Mo) was determined at temperatures from 500 °C to 800 °C and 150 to 300 MPa in KCl-H₂O and pure H₂O solutions in cold-seal experiments. The solutions were trapped as synthetic fluid inclusions in quartz at experimental conditions, and analyzed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICPMS).Mo solubilities of 1.6 wt% in the case of KCl-bearing aqueous solutions and up to 0.8 wt% in pure H₂O were found. Mo solubility is temperature dependent, but not pressure dependent over the investigated range, and correlates positively with salinity (KCl concentration). Molar ratios of ∼1 for Mo/Cl and Mo/K are derived based on our data. In combination with results of synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy of individual fluid inclusions, it is suggested that Mo-oxo-chloride complexes are present at high salinity (>20 wt% KCl) and ion pairs at moderate to low salinity (<11 wt% KCl) in KCl-H₂O aqueous solutions. Similarly, in the pure H₂O experiments molybdic acid is the dominant species in aqueous solution. The results of these hydrothermal Mo experiments fit with earlier studies conducted at lower temperatures and indicate that high Mo concentrations can be transported in aqueous solutions. Therefore, the Mo concentration in aqueous fluids seems not to be the limiting factor for ore formation, whereas precipitation processes and the availability of sulfur appear to be the main controlling factors in the formation of molybdenite (MoS₂).     

Diffusive reequilibration of quartz-hosted silicate melt and fluid inclusions: Are all metal concentrations unmodified?

Experiments were conducted to determine the extent and mechanism by which the composition of quartz-hosted silicate melt inclusions (SMI) and aqueous fluid inclusions (FI) can undergo post-entrapment modification via diffusion. Quartz slabs containing assemblages of SMI and FI were reacted with synthetic HCl bearing and metalliferous aqueous fluids at T = 500-720 °C and P = 150-200 MPa. SMI from the single inclusion assemblages were analyzed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) before and after the experiments. Analyses revealed that rapid diffusion of the univalent cations Na⁺, Li⁺, Ag⁺, Cu⁺ and H⁺ occurred through the quartz from the surroundings, resulting in significant changes in the concentrations of these elements in the inclusions. Concentrations of other elements with an effective ionic radius larger than that of Ag⁺, or multiple valence states were not modified in the inclusions during the experiments. Our results warn inclusion‘‘ researchers that the interpretation of Na, Li, Cu and Ag concentrations from quartz-hosted SMI and FI should be treated critically.     

Solubility of NaCl in CO2 at high pressure and temperature: First experimental measurements

NaCl solubility in gaseous carbon dioxide has been measured in the pressure range from 30 to 70 MPa at 623 and 673 K. Our originally-designed high pressure apparatus allows in situ sampling of a portion of the fluid phase for chemical analysis. The results indicate that the solubility of NaCl increases with both temperature and pressure, and is about 4-5 orders of magnitude higher than saturated NaCl pressure values at the same temperature conditions (6.02 × 10⁻¹² at 623 K and 1.51 × 10⁻¹⁰ at 673 K). It is also 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than predictions according to the Equation of State of the ternary H₂O-CO₂-NaCl system by Duan, Moeller and Weare [Duan, Z., Moller, N., and Weare, J. H. (1995) Equation of state for the NaCl-H₂O-CO₂ system: prediction of phase equilibria and volumetric properties. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta59, 2869] and has the opposite pressure dependence. The activity values of NaCl in the vapor phase, calculated from the experiments (with pure molten NaCl as a standard state in the vapor), have been fitted to the Darken Quadratic Formalism: , where, x_NaCl,v is mole the fraction of NaCl in the vapor phase, , , where P is the pressure in MPa and T the absolute temperature. Caution should be exerted while extrapolating this empirical equation far beyond the experimental P-T-compositional range.