Interpreting ancient fluid inclusions requires methods to be tested against laboratory samples of known composition. In 1990 Lowenstein and colleagues investigated this calibration problem using laboratory-grown halite crystals.
More information on this topic is available in the Rock Salt Chemistry section.
Controlled Brine Systems
Halite crystals were grown in NaCl-H2O, NaCl-KCl-H2O, NaCl-MgCl2-H2O and NaCl-CaCl2-H2O systems.
This meant the starting chemistry of trapped fluids was known to the investigators.
Melting Behavior
The researchers observed melting of phases such as ice, hydrohalite and sylvite in the inclusions.
These temperatures were related to known phase equilibria to infer fluid chemistry.
Limits of Equilibrium Assumptions
The paper showed that some observed first-melting temperatures could fall substantially below theoretical equilibrium eutectic temperatures.
This demonstrates why fluid-inclusion microthermometry cannot always rely on ideal equilibrium tables alone.
Sources
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