Hydrothermal fluids and hydrothermal alterations. Fluid inclusions. Analytical methods for fluid inclusion studies (theory and practice). Melt inclusions. Applications of fluid inclusions to the some fields of earth sciences.
Study of phase equilibria of interest in ore mineralogy. Indicators and buffers. "Ore petrology". Reflected light optical microscopy (theory and practice)
Sheperd T., Rankin A.H. and Alderton D.H.M. (1985). A practical guide to fluid inclusion studies, Blackie, 239 pp.
Samson, A. Anderson, D. Marshall (eds.) (2003) – Fluid inclusions, Analysis and interpretation. Mineral. Assoc. Canada, vol. 32
James R. Craig and David J. Vaughan (1981). Ore microscopy and ore petrology, John Wiley & Sons, 406 pp
Learning Objectives
Knowledge:
Geothermobarometry, physico-chemical characteristics of fluid inclusions.
Petrology of sulphides, applications to the study exploration of ore deposits.
Skills acquired:
Basic knowledge of the thermodynamics of fluid systems of geological interest. Interpretation of phase relation between economic minerals.
Skills acquired at the end of the course:
Microthermometric analyses of fluid inclusions, and data interpretation. Interpretation of petrological and textural data of ore minerals obtained by reflected light microscopy
CFU:6
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Teaching tools
Transmitted light optical microscope equipped with a microthemometric stage. Reflected light microscope
Type of Assessment
Exam modality:
practical and oral test
Course program
Characteristics of hydrothermal fluids and hydrothermal alterations in the major ore deposits and geothermal fields. Fluid inclusions: classification, applications and main analytical methods.
PVT properties of H2O-system, outline of PVTX features of most relevant fluid systems for fluid inclusion studies (H2O + NaCl, H2O + CO2, H2O + NaCl + CO2 etc.).
Microthermometric analyses. Interpretation and elaboration of microthermometric data: thermo-barometric information and salinity calculation.
Main features and analytical methods for melt inclusions. Examples of applications of fluid inclusions in Earth Sciences.
Examples of application of fluid and melt inclusions in earth science: contributions to the ore studies and mining exploration, applications to volcanology and geothermal studies etc..
Study of phase equilibria of interest in mineralogy. Gibbs' phase rule in closed systems and open (Korzhinsky-Thompson). Sulfide reactions. Indicators and buffers. Work on the kinetics of reaction. "Ore petrology" systems Fe-S, Fe-Zn-S, Cu-Fe-Zn-S, Fe-As-S. Applications of the reflected light optical microscopy to the study of phase equilibria of ore mineral assemblages.