Geochemistry of fluid-rock processes

Abstract

When these fluids interact with the surrounding rocks, small aliquots of these fluids are trapped as imperfections in the crystal lattice and fractures of minerals. These microscopic features are called fluid and melt inclusions, and are one of the best tools available to probe, measure and determine the chemical and physical properties of crustal fluids. In the present study we examine new developments into our understanding of fluid-rock interactions using fluid and melt inclusion as tools to provide insights into the evolution of the Earth's crust from the deep continental crust to the surface. Chapter II "Raman spectroscopic characterization of H2O in CO2-rich fluid inclusions in granulite facies metamorphic rocks", is a brief review of the current understanding of granulite rocks and their formation, and a new development into our ability to characterize the composition of the fluids trapped as fluid inclusions in minerals in granulite facies rocks. Chapter III "Reassessment of the Raman CO2 densimeter", details new developments in the use of the Raman spectroscopy to characterize the density of CO2. In this chapter we describe briefly the Raman effect of CO2 and the density dependence of the Fermi diad using different Raman instruments, laser sources and gratings to understand the differences in the published data. Chapter IV "Serpentinization reaction rates measured in olivine micro-batch reactors" describes new insights into the serpentinization process by using olivine micro-reactors. The micro-reactor technique is a new experimental development that allows researchers to monitor the fluid chemistry as well as the mineral composition changes inside synthetic fluid inclusion.