Synthetic Fluid Inclusions by Will Lamb

Synthetic fluid inclusions may be used to better understand the behavior of natural fluid inclusions, and to determine the phase relations and thermodynamic properties of geologically relevant fluids. This information is essential for studies of fluid-rock interaction, and, therefore, we have produced synthetic fluid inclusions under controlled P-T conditions using cold-seal hydrothermal bombs. These synthetic inclusions contain CH4 + H₂O + NaCl, and were formed from both miscible and immiscible fluids. Thus far, we have determined the extent of fluid immiscibility and the compositions of co-existing fluids formed from immiscible fluids at 1, 2 and 5 kbar and 400 to 600 degrees C.

This work has been conducted in collaboration with Dr. Robert Popp (Texas A&M) and Chris McShane (M.S. Texas A&M).