A Model for the PTX Properties of H2O-NaCl

Abstract

In many geologic environments, fluids have compositions that are approximated by the H₂O-NaCl system. When minerals grow in the presence of such fluids, some of the solution is trapped in the growing mineral as fluid inclusions. The salinity, temperature of homogenization, and pressure of homogenization are required to predict the trapping conditions of the fluid inclusion. In the laboratory the salinity and the temperature of homogenization of the trapped fluid are easily determined however, the pressure of homogenization cannot be determined directly, and must be calculated from an equation of state.

A statistical model that relates the vapor pressure of H₂O-NaCl to the fluid temperature and composition has been developed. The model consists of equations that predict the vapor pressure of H₂O-NaCl from the eutectic temperature (-21.2°C) to 1500°C and for all compositions between the pure end-members. The model calculates the vapor pressure based on the composition (wt% NaCl) and the temperature of homogenization, which can be directly obtained from laboratory studies of fluid inclusions. This information in turn can be used to construct the isochore, or line of constant volume, along which the fluid inclusion was trapped. Finally the isochore can be used to determine the temperature and pressure at which the host mineral of the fluid inclusion was trapped.