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Rapid fluid inclusion data for exploration (decrepitation)

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Discussion points

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Discussion points

• Do "IOCG" deposits form from fluids containing abundant CO₂?

Studies of IOCG deposits almost invariably observe fluid inclusions within the quartz gangue minerals to determine the nature of the ore fluids. But many studies infer the presence of multiple fluid events and it is uncertain that the Fe-oxide minerals formed from the same fluids which deposited the quartz gangue.  Cu stable isotope studies have shown that the ore and gangue minerals of epithermal deposits do not form from the same fluid. The assertion of formation of these Fe-oxide deposits from CO₂ rich fluids based on observations of inclusions in quartz is tenuous at best.
By: Kingsley Burlinson,  June 2016, April 2018, April 2020

• Gold-quartz deposits do NOT form from CO₂-only fluids:   Heterogeneous fluid inclusion trapping is everywhere

• Explaining the formation of CO₂-only fluid inclusions
  

An example of fluid cooling across the immiscibility solvus showing why such heterogeneous fluids are misidentified and how they form CO₂-only inclusions from aqueous parent fluids. K. Burlinson, April 2018.

• Gold deposition from heterogeneous aqueous, CO₂-rich fluids: resolving the enigmatic and misleading hypothesis of deposition from CO₂ only fluids.

An explanation of the presence of CO₂ fluid inclusions in heterogeneous dominantly aqueous fluid systems. The gold and silica are not transported in the CO₂ fluid because it is a minor component of the dominantly aqueous system.

• Thermodynamic studies confirm that gold is NOT transported in anhydrous CO₂ fluids. 

Research by Liu et.al. shows a negative correlation between gold solubility and CO₂ content in fluids. This confirms other discussions below which point out that mis-interpretation of heterogeneous fluids is the real explanation of anhydrous CO₂ fluid inclusions found in some gold deposits.

• Contrasting types of heterogeneous fluids. Boiling versus gas-rich aqueous immiscibility systems.

Boiling epithermal fluid systems and immiscible CO₂ - aqueous fluid systems are both heterogeneous fluids, but they are very different and must be interpreted differently.
By: Kingsley Burlinson, November 2014

• Spherical or well rounded gas-filled fluid inclusions prove that heterogeneous trapping occurred from a dominantly liquid phase fluid.

Inclusion morphology can indicate that gas filled inclusions must have formed as bubbles within a liquid rather than being trapped from a purely gas host phase fluid.
By: Kingsley Burlinson, June 2014

• Gas dominated inclusion assemblages may be trapped from aqueous dominant heterogeneous fluids by disproportional trapping

A discussion disputing published work which wrongly claims to prove that gold is transported in pure CO₂ fluids. By: Kingsley Burlinson, September 2013

• Fluid inclusions in quartz cannot prove that non-aqueous fluids CO₂ formed the ore

A discussion disputing the transport of gold in pure CO₂ fluids   By:  Kingsley Burlinson,   September 2011

• Hydrogen analyses of fluid inclusion contents by mass spectrometry are probably incorrect - index to discussions

• Hydrogen contents of fluid inclusion volatiles should not be analysed by mass spectrometer because the ionizer generates hydrogen from water and hydrocarbons.

•  A proposed mechanism for the generation of H₂ from H₂O  in the electron impact ionizer of Mass Spectrometer.  To explain the erroneous H₂ analyses of aqueous Fluid Inclusions

• A discussion and reply on the error of using  mass spectrometry to analyse hydrogen in aqueous analytes.

A discussion of the serious errors in analysis of hydrogen within fluid inclusions by mass spectrometry.
By: Kingsley Burlinson, September 2013

• Another discussion and reply (June 2018) about the error of analyzing H₂ in aqueous analytes by mass spectrometry with an electron impact ionizer.

• Do "IOCG" deposits form from fluids containing abundant CO2?

Studies of IOCG deposits almost invariably observe fluid inclusions within the quartz gangue minerals to determine the nature of the ore fluids. But many studies infer the presence of multiple fluid events and Cu stable isotope studies have shown that the ore and gangue minerals of epithermal deposits do not form from the same fluid. The assertion of formation of these Fe-oxide deposits from CO₂ rich fluids is tenuous at best.
By: Kingsley Burlinson,  June 2016

• Why don't exploration geologists use or understand fluid inclusions?

Fluid inclusion information is particularly useful in exploration for porphyry copper deposits, but was completely ignored during exploration at the Cadia mine, NSW, Australia.
By:   Kingsley Burlinson,   May 2012

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