Can the vapour phase be neglected to estimate bulk salinity of halite bearing aqueous fluid inclusions?

Abstract

The bulk salinity cannot be directly obtained from the dissolution temperatures of halite in highly saline fluid inclusions that contain solid, liquid, and vapour at room temperature. At least two of the following independent parameters must be determined to estimate the bulk composition and density of these inclusions: 1. dissolution temperature of halite in the presence of vapour; 2. total homogenization temperature of liquid and vapour; and 3. volume fraction of the vapour phase. A new Vm-x diagram for phase stabilities in the H2O-NaCl system has been constructed to obtain these bulk fluid properties from inclusions that homogenize liquid and vapour phase at higher temperatures than dissolution of halite. © Versita sp. z o.o.