In: Fluid Inclusions: Analysis and Interpretation (I. Samson, A. Anderson, D. Marshall, Eds.
)
Mineralogical Association of Canada Short Course Series Volume 32 (2003)
GLOSSARY: TERMS AND SYMBOLS USED IN FLUID INCLUSION STUDIES
Larryn W. Diamond
Institute of Geological Sciences,
University of Bern,
Baltzerstrasse 1–3,
CH–3012 Bern, Switzerland
diamond@geo.unibe.ch
Notes on style:
Standard International (S.I.) units, symbols and conventions are used (variables are written in italic
type, constants and other symbols are written in upright type). See www.physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units.
Phase assemblages such as solid + liquid + vapor are abbreviated as SLV. Spelling follows
American English rules.
Accidentally-Trapped Phases, Minerals: see
Captured Phases, Trapped Phases
Assemblage: see Fluid Inclusion Assemblage
(FIA) and Phase Assemblage
Boiling: A process in which a multicomponent
liquid traverses a bubble-curve (or a one-
component liquid traverses a liquid-vapor
coexistence curve), producing a LV or LL phase
assemblage. The crossing of the phase bound ary
has a definite direction, L → LV, and can be
caused by any combination of appropriate
changes in T, P and V. In geological
environments, boiling may occur with the liquid
and vapor remaining in contact (closed-system
boiling) or it may occur with progressive escape
of the less dense fluid (open-system boiling).
The opposite of boiling is condensation.
Boiling Curve, Boiling -Point Curve: See Bubble
Curve, Bubble-Point Curve
Bubble Curve, Bubble-Point Curve: In phase
diagrams for multi-component fluid inclusions it
is convenient to describe the boundary between
the stability fields of LV and L as the "bubble
curve". This term derives from the observation
that, as an LV inclusion (or any LV system) is
heated su ch that its P-T path crosses this curve,
the bubble of vapor disappears (LV → L).
Conversely, as the inclusion path crosses back
across this curve upon cooling, the bubble
reappears (L → LV). Owing to the kinetics of
vapor nucleation, the reverse transition (upon
cooling) usually occurs at a lower temperature
than that of the forward transition. The bubble
curve joins the dew curve at the critical point.
363
Some workers use the terms "boiling curve" or
"boiling-point curve" instead of "bubble curve",
even thou gh boiling refers to a process, not to a
state.
Bulk: Synonym of "total"; refers to the properties
of an entire fluid inclusion.
Captured Phases, Captured Minerals, Captured
Crystals: Any phase (solid, liquid, vapor) that
was incorporated in an inclusion during fluid
entrapment. For example, tiny crystals of mica
are often swept into fluid inclusions as they
form, or act as defects on crystal surfaces,
around which fluid is trapped by growth of the
host-crystal. Similarly, if more than one fluid
phase is present in a pore-fluid during inclusion
formation (e.g., liquid and vapor, or two
immiscible liquids), then variable proportions of
these fluids may be trapped within the inclusion
as "captured phases". The volume fraction of
captured phases usually varies greatly among the
inclusions of an individual fluid-inclusion
assemblage. Therefore, comparison of volume
fractions within an inclusion assemblage is an
important criterion to distinguish captured
phases from daughter phases. Most captured
phases have rather low solubilities in the original
pore-fluid of which the inclusion is a sample,
and they cannot be dissolved in the fluid
inclusion upon heating to Ttrapping, because the
original pore-fluid was saturated in these phases
prior to entrapment. Care must be taken in
classifying high-solubility minerals (e.g., halite)
as either captured or daughter, because both
cases occur in natural inclusions. Synonyms:
Accidentally-Trapped Phases; Trapped Phases
Clathrate: see Gas-Hydrate Clathrate
Component: One of a minimum number of
chemical species chosen to describe the
compositions of all the phases considered in a
thermodynamic system. The species (chemical
formulae) may be real or imaginary. The number
of components must be kept to a minimum in
order to apply the Phase Rule successfully. As
an example, the formulae CO2 and H2 O are
sufficient to describe the following 7 phases:
solid CO2 , ice, CO2 ·7.5H2 O clathrate-hydrate,
CO2 -rich liquid, H2 O-rich liquid, CO2 -H2 O
vapor, CO 2 -H2 O supercritical fluid, etc. The
chosen components may not be sufficient to
describe all real species in a system. For
example, CO2 -bearing water contains ionic
species such as HCO 3 -, and H+. These do not
need to be accounted for in the selection of the
components if their concentrations are so low
that they have no measurable effect on phase
transitions.
Consistent Phase Ratios: see Volume Fraction
Critical Point: The P–T–Vm point at which the
properties of coexisting liquid and vapor phases
become identical. When fluid inclusions of
critical V m are heated through the critical
temperature, the phase boundary (meniscus)
between liquid and vapor vanishes. The
transition can be written as LV → SCF or L = V.
The reverse transition, SCF → LV, occurs upon
cooling at the same characteristic temperature,
without a hysteresis (no supercooling). Every
imaginable fluid composition has at least one
critical point. For example, a mixture of 20 mol
% CH4 and 80 mol % CO2 has a critical point at
8°C and 8.5 MPa. Often in the geochemical
literature the term "supercritical conditions" is
used in a very restricted sense, to denote P–T
conditions above the critical point of pure H2 O
at 374°C and 22 MPa (H2 O being a common
solvent in the Earth's crust). This restricted use is
not appropriate for fluid inclusion studies
because all kinds of fluids, not just H2 O-
dominated solutions, are encountered.
Critical Temperature: see Critical Point
Daughter Phase, Daughter Mineral: Any phase
(solid, liquid, vapor) that forms upon cooling
after an inclusion has formed (i.e., after it has
been isolated from the original pore -fluid of
364
which it is a sample). For example, in a pure
H2O inclusion trapped in quartz under elevated
P and T within the stability field of water,
cooling may cause a daughter vapor-bubble to
form, and eventually daughter crystals of ice. In
order for a daughter crystal to precipitate in situ
within a fluid inclusion and be large enough to
be visible, it must have, paradoxically, a rather
high solubility in the original, pre-inclusion
pore-fluid, and it must have prograde solubility
behaviour. Thus, halite is a common daughter
mineral in inclusions trapped under high
temperatures. In contrast, minerals such as micas
or feldspars generally have such low solubilities
in the original pore-fluid, that they rarely
precipitate visibly upon cooling within fluid
inclusions. Daughter minerals with retrograde
solubility (e.g., carbonates) may grow in size
upon heating. Some of the host mineral (quartz
in the above sample) may also precipitate upon
cooling. Usually this precipitation occurs
epitaxially on the inclusion walls and therefore
the additional host material is not visible at room
temperature as a separate daughter mineral. In
principle, all the precipitation reactions of
daughter minerals, and of other phases, such as
liquids and vapor bubbles, should be reversible
upon heating the inclusions to the temperature of
trapping. This is not always true in practice,
owing to unfavourable dissolution kinetics
(especially of silicate minerals). The volume
fraction of daughter phases is usually uniform
among inclusions of a given fluid inclusion
assemblage. Thus, comparison of the volume
fractions is an important criterion to distinguish
daughter phases from captured phases.
Exceptions to this are when daughter phases fail
to nucleate in individual inclusions. Compare
with Captured Phases and Trapped Phases.
Decrepitation Temperature (Td): The
temperature at which a fluid inclusion
irreversibly ruptures, or "decrepitates", upon
heating (owing to extreme internal overpressure
caused by fluid expansion) or upon cooling
(owing to extreme internal overpressure caused
by crystallization of ice). Use of the term
"decrepitation" implies loss of inclusion contents
and changes in inclusion volume. Compare with
Stretching.
Density (ρα ): The density of an entire inclusion
(ρ total ) or of a specified phase within an inclusion
 (e.g., ρ Vapor), usually in units of g·cm–3 . See also
Molar Volume.
Dew Curve, Dew-Point Curve : In phase diagrams
for multi-component fluid inclusions it is
convenient to describe the boundary between the
stability field of LV and V as the "dew curve".
Intersection of this curve by a fluid inclusion
during progressive heating is observed as
disappearance of a liquid film (LV → V).
Intersection of the curve during cooling shows
the reverse transition (V → LV), i.e., condens-
ation of "dew". Owing to the kinetics of
nucleation, the condensation of dew usually
occurs at slightly lower temperature than that of
the forward transition. Initial condensation is
usually invisible in fluid inclusions, owing to
optical limitations. The dew curve meets the
bubble curve at the critical point.
Diathermal: A system boundary that allows
exchange of heat. A fluid inclusion can always
exchange heat with its surroundings, be it in a
geological setting or on a heating-freezing stage
in the laboratory.
Dissociation Temperature: see Melting Temper-
ature
Dissolution Temperature: see Melting Temper-
ature
Divariant: A phase assemblage with variance of 2,
e.g., liquid water in the pure H2 O system.
Effervescence: see Exsolution
Eq. wt. % NaCl: see Salinity
Equilibrium: A state of a system which does not
vary with space or time. An equilibrium state
may be stable or metastable. To achieve
equilibrium in space, all parts of a fluid
inclusion must be able to communicate (e.g., via
diffusion) with each other. Armoring of phases
during cooling (e.g., hydrohalite around halite)
often leads to disequilibrium during
microthermometry. Fluid inclusions may be in
metastable equilibrium for long periods of time
(e.g., the indefinite existence at Tlab of liquid-
only inclusions trapped at elevated temper-
atures). Reversibility of phase transitions upon
fine temperature reversals (e.g., dissolution
versus growth of a halite crystal) is a convenient
test of temporal equilibrium.
365
Eutectic Te mperature, Apparent Eutectic
Temperature (Te ): The minimum temperature
of liquid stability in a specified system. For any
system considered at specified, fixed pressure,
the eutectic is a unique, characteristic
temperature and it is associated with a unique,
characteristic mixture of the components (the
"eutectic composition"). Upon heating saline
aqueous fluid inclusions from low temperature,
melting first occurs at the eutectic temperature.
However, if the bulk composition of the fluid
inclusion lies far from the eutectic composition,
only a tiny amount of liquid forms at the eutectic
temperature and so it remains invisible. Such
inclusions must be heated well above the their
eutectic temperature before enough liquid has
formed to be visible. Owing to this overstepping,
the temperature at which liquid is first observed
upon heating may be termed the "apparent
eutectic temperature". The reactants and
products of the eutectic phase transition must be
recorded with the temperature, e.g.,
Te(HydrohaliteIceV → IceLV). Sometimes the
solid that melts at the eutectic cannot be
identified, and this may be indicated as
Te(S1 IceV → IceLV). In gas inclusions and in
gas-bearing aqueous inclusions, the first liquid
produced does not necessarily form at the
characteristic system eutectic, but at a higher
temperature dependent on the bulk composition
and density of the inclusion. In such inclusions,
and whenever it is not clear which system is
involved, the temperature at which liquid is first
observed upon progressive heating is best
termed the "initial melting temperature".
Exsolution: A process in which a multicomponent
solution-phase splits into two compositionally
different phases. In multicomponent fluids,
exsolution (or unmixing) is equivalent to boiling
and to effervescence: use of the term exsolution
emphasizes the compositional evolution of the
system, whereas the term boiling is used to
emphasize the physical evolution (generation of
two phases with contrasting densities). For
multicomponent solid-solutions, exsolution or
unmixing means the generation of two solid
phases from one initially homogeneous phase.
Exsolution can be caused by any combination of
appropriate changes in T, P and V.
F: see Volume Fraction
Final Melting Temperature (Tm ): The
temperature at wh ich a solid is observed to melt
(or dissolve or dissociate) completely upon
progressive heating of a fluid inclusion. The
reactants and products of the phase transition
must be recorded with the temperature, e.g.,
Tm(IceLV → LV). Sometimes the solid that melts
cannot be identified, and this may be indicated
as Tm(S1 LV → LV). Once the reactants and
products of the specific transitions have been
described in a given report or article,
abbreviations may be used, e.g., Tm(CO 2 ),
T m(Ice), T m(Cla), T m(Halite). A large
temperature span may separate the initial and
final melting temperatures of a given solid.
Occasionally the temperature of final melting of
a solid may also coincide with the temperature
of total homogenization of the inclusion, e.g., Tm
= Th (HaliteL → L). In non-English literature the
symbol T f is sometimes used instead of Tm,
where the subscript "f" stands for "fusion". The
same symbol, Tf, is also sometimes used to
denote "temperature of formation".
First Melting Temperature: See Initial Melting
Temperature
Fluid: In English, as opposed to some other
languages, the term "fluid" denotes any phase
that flows. Thus, both liquid and vapor are
fluids. The term "supercritical fluid" is
particularly apt, because it is a phase that flows
but it is by definition neither vapor nor liquid.
Fluid Inclusion: Any quantity of single- or multi-
phase fluid enclosed (included) within a
crystalline or amorphous solid. When useful for
a particular study, this definition may be
expanded to encompass quantities of fluid
trapped between crystals along grain boundaries
(fluid "exclusions"?). The term "fluid inclusions"
is also applied to melt inclusions, because the
contents were fluid at the time of trapping.
Under normal room conditions, melt inclusions
consist of glass or aggregates of fine crystals,
and some melt inclusions may also contain
liquid and vapor phases. Therefore, the
distinction between fluid and melt inclusions is
drawn as a matter of convenience.
Fluid Inclusion Assemblage (FIA): A group of
cogenetic fluid inclusions occupying an
individual petrographic feature (e.g., crystal
growth-horizon, healed fracture), as
366
unambiguously recognizable in a petrographic
microscope or other petrographic imaging
instrument.
Fluid Inclusion Generation (FIG) : A set of fluid
inclusion assemblages, interpreted on the basis
of textural criteria to be coeval. For example, a
rock sample or a rock outcrop may contain a
generation consisting of all-liquid assemblages,
all-vapor assemblages, and some assemblages of
inclusions with variable L:V proportions. This
generation could be interpreted to record a state
of LV immiscibility at the time that the
inclusions formed.
Fluid Inclusion Trapping, Fluid Inclusion
Formation: The process by which a fluid
inclusion is enclosed in its host mineral; also the
point in time when an inclusion becomes
isolated from the pore-fluid, of which it is a
sample. This point is important, because prior to
this the fluid properties are controlled by the
independently variable P–T–X properties of the
geological environment. After entrapment, the
properties of the fluid inclusion are controlled
only by the temperature of the geological
environment (or heating-freezing stage), the
initial bulk molar volume and bulk composition
usually remaining constant.
Gas: See Vapor (synonym). "Gas species" are
those which are in the gaseous (vapor) state
under normal laboratory conditions.
Gas-Hydrate Clathrate: Also termed simply
“gas -hydrate” or “clathrate”. Gas -hydrate
clathrates are non-stoichiometric crystalline
compounds of H2 O molecules and gas
molecules. The H2 O molecules form a
hydrogen-bonded lattice containing cages
(whence “clathrate”), within which the gas
molecules are enclosed. “Simple clathrates”
contain only one gas species (e.g., CH4 •7.4H2 O,
where the number of water molecules varies
with P and T). “Mixed clathrates” are solid
solutions containing more than one gas species
(e.g., CH4 –CO2 -clathrate). Clathrates are stable
at high pressures and at low temperatures. Gas-
bearing fluid inclusions must be cooled to
several tens of degrees below 0°C before
clathrates crystallize. The final melting – or
dissociation – temperature of clathrate, Tm(Cla),
is a function of Pgas, T, gas composition and
salinity of the coexisting aqueous phase. Thus, if
 the other variables are kn own, Tm(Cla) values
can be used to determine fluid -inclusion salinity.
Generation : see Fluid Inclusion Generation
Heterogeneous Entrapment: Formation of
inclusions from a multi-phase state, e.g., liquid +
vapor, liquid + solid.
Heterogeneous: A state or process in a system
involving more that one phase. For example, an
inclusion consisting of liquid and vapor is in a
heterogeneous state. Heterogeneous reactions
are those involving more than one phase, e.g.,
the equilibrium H2 O(Ice) = H2 O(Water).
Homogeneous Entrapment: Formation of
inclusions from a one-phase parent fluid, e.g.,
liquid or vapor.
Homogeneous: A state or process in a system
involving only one phase. For example, an
inclusion consisting only of only one phase (e.g.,
liquid or vapour) is homogeneous.
Homogeneous reactions are those that occur
within one phase, e.g., the equilibrium
H CO 0 = HCO − + H+ in water.
2 3 (aq) 3 (aq) (aq)
Homogenization Pressure (Ph): The pressure at
which a fluid inclusion transforms, upon
progressive heating, to a homogeneous (i.e., one-
phase) state. Use of this symbol is analogous to
Th.
Homogenization Temperature (Th ): The temper-
ature at which a fluid inclusion transforms from
a multi-phase (heterogeneous) to a one-phase
(homogeneous) state. Homogenization may
occur in several diffe rent modes, i.e., via several
different phase transitions, and therefore the
reactants and products must be recorded with the
temperature: (1) homogenization to the liquid
state via a bubble-point transition, T h(LV → L);
(2) homogenization to the vapor state via a dew-
point transition, T h(LV → L); (3) homogeniz-
ation via a critical transition to a supercritical
fluid: T h (LV → SCF) or written simply as
Th(critical); (4) homogenization to the liquid via
a liquidus (melting, dissolution) transition,
T h(SL → L), and homogenization via a vaporus
(sublimation) transition, Th (SV → V). In some
gas inclusions, such as N2 –CO2 , and in gas -
bearing aqueous fluid inclusions, such as CO 2 –
H2O ± salt and CH4 –H2 O ± salt, two or more
367
"homogenization" transitions may be observed
upon progressive heating: (1) the partial
homogenization of the non-aqueous phases at
low temperature, e.g., T h(LCO 2 Laq V → LV); and
(2) the total homogenization of the inclusion at
high temperature, e.g., T h (LV → L). Once the
reactants and products of the specific transitions
have been described in a given report or article,
the following abbreviations may be used: e.g., Th
(provided there is no ambiguity), Th (partial) or
T h (CO2 ), Th (CH4 ) etc., and Th (total).
Host Mineral, Host Crystal : The mineral in
which a fluid inclusion is trapped.
Immiscibility: An equilibrium state of a system in
which two solution-phases coexist, rather than
mixing to form one phase. For example, liquid
CO2 and water (both structurally fluids) do not
mix completely at Tlab , and are therefore termed
immiscible. At high T and P, however, they
mutually dissolve in any proportions (i.e., they
become miscible). Similarly, halite (NaCl) and
sylvite (KCl) are isostructural solution phases
which are immiscible at Tlab , but which mix in
any proportions at very high T. Note that
"immiscibility" refers to a time - and space-
invariant state, not to a process. Also note that
"immiscibility" is useful as a term only in the
context of solutions. There is no sense in calling
pure water and pure steam "immiscible",
because although they are both fluids and they
coexist at equilibrium as separate phases, they
are not compositionally-variable solutions in the
pure H2 O system.
Initial Melting Temperature (Ti ): The
temperature at which liquid is first observed to
form upon progressive heating of a solid-bearing
fluid inclusion. In gas -bearing inclusions this
temperature does not necessarily correspond to
the eutectic temperature or the apparent eutectic
temperature. Synonyms: First Melting
Temperature, Incipient Melting Temperature.
Compare with Eutectic Temperature and with
Final Melting Temperature.
Invariant: A phase assemblage with variance of 0,
e.g., SLV in the pure H2 O system. See Variance.
Isochore: A point, line, curve, field or other
geometric element on a phase diagram, denoting
a fixed bulk molar volume (or fixed bulk
density). Fluid inclusions that behave as
 constant-volume systems (no expansion or
contraction upon heating or cooling) have fixed
bulk volumes, and are therefore "isochoric
systems". On a P-T diagram, isochores are
always curves.
Isopleth: A point, line, curve, field or other
geometric element on a phase diagram, denoting
a fixed bulk chemical composition or a fixed
phase composition. Fluid inclusions that behave
as closed systems (no leakage upon heating or
cooling) have fixed bulk compositions, and are
therefore "isoplethic systems". Often, entire P-T
phase diagrams are constructed for a specified
isopleth.
Iso-Th Lines: Lines on a phase diagram (e.g., P–T
diagram) that join trapping conditions (Ptrapping
and Ttrapping ) of inclusions that have the same
homogenization temperature. Iso-Th lines are
similar to, but different from, isochores, in that
iso-Th lines incorporate the effects of host-
crystal expansivity. Iso-Th lines are sometimes
used to summarize conveniently the results of
synthetic fluid inclusion studies, in which
homogenization temperatures can be determined
but molar volumes remain unknown.
L: see Liquid
Liquid (L): A fluid in equilibriu m with a less
dense vapor phase, or at pressures above the
liquid + vapor (LV) coexistence curve.
LV Envelope: The P–T–Vm stability field of LV is
enclosed by the "liquid-vapor envelope", a
continuous boundary made up of the dew-curve,
critical point and bubble curve.
Melt Inclusion: Any quantity of a formerly
molten phase (typically a magmatic liquid) that
is at least partly enclosed within a crystalline or
amorphous solid. Remains of silicate melts are
solid under laboratory conditions, occurring
either in the form of glass or fine crystal
aggregates. Some melt inclusions also contain
vapor bubbles and even liquid phases (e.g., CO2 )
at room temperature. See also Fluid Inclusion.
Melting Temperature: Three cases are
distinguished in fluid inclusion studies: see
Eutectic Temperature (Te ), Initial Melting
Temperature (Ti ), and Final Melting
Temperature (T m).
368
Metastability: In the thermodynamic sense,
"metastability" refers to a system state
characterized by a Gibbs free energy that is not
the lowest attainable under the specified
conditions (e.g., T–Vm–X conditions). For fluid
inclusions this means that another phase
assemblage should be present instead of the one
observed. For example, the persistence of ice
above 0°C upon heating of fluid inclusions is a
case of metastability. The stable assemblage
would involve water, not ice. Some workers
distinguish metastable phase transitions by an
asterisk, e.g., Tm*(SLV → LV).
Microthermometry: The technique of measuring
the temperatures of thermally-induced phase
transitions in fluid inclusions while the
inclusions are observed under a microscope at
high magnification. The most common
microthermometric instruments are "heating–
freezing stages", with ranges of operation
between –190°C and 600°C. Other stages have
ranges extending to 1650°C.
Molar Volume (V m ): the volume occupied by a
mole of substance i (pure or mixed phase, part or
all of a fluid inclusion), usually expressed in
units of cm3 ·mol–1 . Thus, Vm(CO2 vapor) denotes
the molar volume of the CO2 vapor phase in a
fluid inclusion; Vm,total denotes the total molar
volume of an entire fluid inclusion. The partial
molar volume (v m,i ) is the volume occupied by a
mole of species i in a solution. For example,
v mLaq,CO 2 denotes the partial molar volume of CO2
dissolved in aqueous liquid (water). The molar
volume is proportional to the reciprocal of the
density, ρi in units of g·cm–3 . Thus, Vm = Mi /ρ i ,
where Mi is the molar mass of substance i.
Mole Fraction (X i or xi ): The amount of
substance i in a phase or in an entire fluid
inclusion or in a system. By definition,
( )
X i = ni / n i + ∑ j n j , where n denotes the
number of moles, j stands for all substances
other than i, and the denominator is sum of all
moles in the phase or in the fluid inclusion or in
the system of interest. Xi has dimensions of
mole/mole and therefore it is unitless, with
values of 0 = Xi = 1. The symbol Xi , without a
superscript, usually denotes the fraction of i in
L Aq
the entire system. In contrast, XCO 2
denotes the
mole fraction of CO 2 in a specific phase (here
 total
aqueous liquid), whereas XCO denotes the mole
2
fraction of CO2 in the entire fluid inclusion.
Sometimes it is convenient to define i as a phase.
Thus, X total
L Aq
denotes the mole fraction of the
aqueous liquid phase in the entire inclusion. The
symbols X or x, without subscripts, are often
used to denote any compositional variable. For
example, "density is a function of T and X"
means density is a function of temperature and
composition.
Necking, Necking-Down: A post-entrapment
process in which large, irregular inclusions tend
towards morphological equilibrium (minimiz-
ation of surface free-energy) by splitting into
several smaller, more equant inclusions. During
this process the asperities in the inclusion walls
narrow down, adopting shapes that resemble
“necks”. The process involves dissolution and
reprecipitation of the host crystal. All secondary
inclusions formed by crack-healing become
isolated via necking-down. As long as it occurs
within a single-phase region of the fluid P–T–X
space, necking-down does not alter the original
molar volume of a homogeneously-trapped fluid.
In contrast, necking-down over a temperature
interval within a multi-phase P–T–X region leads
to unequal distribution of the phases between the
resulting assemblage of inclusions (i.e., ϕ-values
are variable at room temperature), and hence the
Vm–X properties of individual inclusions do not
represent the properties of the originally
captured pore-fluid. Fluid-inclusion assemblages
resulting from necking-down in a multi-phase
P–T–X region may be confused with
assemblages formed via heterogeneous
entrapment.
Nucleation Temperature (Tn ): The temperature at
which a specified phase first appears during
microthermometry. For example, the
temperature at which a vapor bubble appears
upon cooling a homogeneous liquid inclusion is
denoted as Tn(L → LV) or simply Tn (Vapor).
Similarly, the first crystallization of ice upon
cooling is termed the ice nucleation temperature,
e.g., T n (LV → IceLV) or simply Tn (Ice). Phases
may also nucleate upon heating, e.g., Tn (SV →
SLV). In other branches of geochemistry and
physical chemistry a distinction is made between
the temperature at which nuclei of a phase form,
and the temperature at which stable nuclei begin
369
to grow. In most fluid inclusion work this
distinction is unnecessary.
Pcritical : Pressure of the critical point of a specific
bulk chemical composition.
Pd: Decrepitation pressure (pressure-analogue of
Td ).
Ph: see Homogenization Pressure.
Ptriple: Pressure of the triple point of a specific
bulk chemical composition.
Partial Homogenization Temperature: see
Homogenization Temperature.
Phase: Any mechanically separable portion of a
system that is homogeneous with respect to its
physical and chemical properties, whether in the
solid (crystalline or amorphous), liquid, vapor
(gas), or supercritical fluid state.
Phase Assemblage: A set of phases at equilibrium
in an inclusion or in a system of fixed bulk
chemical composition. For example, the 2-phase
assemblage LV is common in fluid inclusions at
room temperature. Fluid inclusions usually
contain different phase assemblages according to
temperature; phase transitions mark the passage
from one assemblage to another.
Phase Ratios: see Volume Fraction
Phase Rule, Gibbs Phase Rule: The variance (v)
of a system is given by the following rule: v = c
+ 2 - p, where c is the number of components, 2
stands for the two independent state variables
necessary to define the state of a system of fixed
composition (e.g., T and P or T and Vm), and p is
the number of phases in an equilibrium phase-
assemblage. For example, in a two-component
system in which 3 phases are observed at
equilibrium, v = 2 + 2 - 3 = 1, i.e., the phase
assemblage is univariant. Thus, in a CO2 -H2 O
fluid inclusion, or in an H2O-NaCl inclusion, the
phase assemblage ice + water + vapor is
univariant, which means it can be observed over
a temperature interval. In contrast, for a pure
H2O inclusion (one component), the phase rule
shows that the same phase assemblage is
invariant, meaning it can be observed only at a
unique temperature.
Pore fluid: A term used in this glossary, out of
convenience, to denote any fluid prior to its
entrapment in fluid inclusions. Such fluids may
 occur on grain boundaries, in isolated rock
pores, in fractures, or even as large fluid bodies,
such as seawater at a mineral–seawater interface.
Post-Entrapment Modifications: Any modific-
ation of the original composition, chemical
speciation, molar volume, or morphology, of a
fluid inclusion that takes place following
entrapment. Such modifications may be induced
by natural processes (e.g., loss of components
via diffusion, changes in morphology and molar
volume owing to high pressure differentials
between the fluid inclusions and their
surroundings, etc.), or by artificial processes
(e.g., stretching caused by overheating during
microthermometry). The compact term
“reequilibration” is also used for such changes,
even though equilibrium with respect to the
post-entrapment P–T–X conditions may not
actually be attained.
Primary Inclusion: A fluid inclusion trapped
while its host crystal was growing (e.g., via
precipitation from a hydrothermal fluid).
Typically located on crystallographically-
controlled growth horizons, primary inclusions
are interpreted as samples of the parent fluid
from which the host-mineral precipitated, or of
the fluid with which the host-crystal was in
equilibrium at the time of its growth. Note that
"primary" refers only to the relative age of the
inclusion with respect to its immediate host
mineral; the rock in which the inclusion is found
may not have formed at the same time as the
host mineral of the inclusio ns.
Process: In the thermodynamic sense, any change
from one thermodynamic state to another
(dynamic). Processes are represented by path
arrows on phase diagrams. Compare with State.
Pseudosecondary Inclusion: A fluid inclusion
that was trapped after an early phase of host-
crystal growth had finished, typically within
healed fractures, but before all crystal growth
was completed. Thus, the traces of healed
fractures that contain pseudosecondary inclus-
ions terminate at a specific growth horizon,
within the host crystal. Pseudosecondary
inclusions are interpreted, like primary
inclusions, as samples of the fluid from which
the host-crystal was growing, at the time -horizon
marked by the termination of the healed
fractures. The prefix "pseudo" is used because
370
the inclusions may look like secondary
inclusions but they carry the significance of
primary inclusions.
Quadruple Point: A point in P-T space defined by
the invariant coexistence of 4 phases, e.g., the
assemblage S1 S2 LV in a binary system.
Quintuple Point: A point in P-T space defined by
the invariant coexistence of 5 phases, e.g., the
assemblage S1 S2 S3 LV in a ternary system.
R: see Volume Fraction
Reequilibration: see Post-Entrapment Modific-
ations
S: Solid
Salinity: The amount of solutes in aqueous
solution, including electrolytes (e.g., NaCl,
CaCl2 ) and non-electrolytes (e.g., CO2 , H2 S).
Often the concentrations of the individual
solutes are not known in multi-component fluid
inclusions, but phase transitions can be
measured that are sensitive to the overall salinity
(e.g., Tm(Ice), T m(Hydrohalite), Tm(Halite),
Tm(Clathrate)). In these cases, the salinity is
conventionally reported in NaCl (or CaCl2 )
equivalents, e.g., “wNaCl equiv. = 10 %” means that
the inclusion shows phase transitions that are
consistent with a mass fraction of 10 % NaCl in
the aqueous phase. Equivalent weight-fraction
(symbol "equiv. wt. %") is an alternative (non-
S.I.) unit. Instead of mass units, salinity may
also be expressed as a mole fraction, e.g., XNaCl
equiv. = 3.3 %, or in units of molality, e.g., mNaCl
equiv. = 1.9.
SCF: see Supercritical Fluid
Secondary Inclusion: A fluid inclusion trapped
after its host crystal had finished growing.
Typically located within healed fractures that
intersect the host-crystal boundaries, secondary
inclusions are interpreted as samples of fluid that
circulated at any time after growth of the host
mineral (perhaps many millions of years later).
The fracture-healing process is not counted here
as "crystal growth".
Stable: In the thermodynamic sense, "stable"
refers to the system state with the lowest
attainable Gibbs free energy for the specified
conditions (e.g., T, V, X conditions). This means
that the phase assemblage observed in a fluid
 inclusion corresponds to that plotted in phase
diagram depicting stable equilibrium. Compare
with Metastability.
State: In a thermodynamic sense, a situation in
which the properties of a system are determined
by fixed P, T, V, X conditions. A state is
represented by a point on a phase diagram.
Compare with Process.
Stretched Liquid: A metastable liquid that
occupies more space than it would under stable
equilibrium conditions. For example, liquid
inclusions usually penetrate the field of stretched
liquid upon cooling, prior to nucleating a vapor
bubble at Tn (V).
Stretching: Irreversible volume expansion of a
fluid inclusion upon heating (caused by
deformation of the inclusion walls due to fluid
expansion) or upon cooling (caused by
deformation of the inclusion walls by
crystallization of ice). No specific deformation
mechanism and no loss of chemical constituents
is implied by the use of the term "stretching".
Compare with Decrepitation.
Sublimation: The process by which a solid
evaporates directly to a vapor, without passing
through an intervening liquid state. Some
scientists also use this term for the reverse
process (direct crystallization from the vapor
state). Fluid inclusions may homogenize via a
sublimation transition, SV → V.
Supercritical Fluid (SCF): A fluid at a
temperature and at a pressure above the P-T
conditions of its critical point. There is a
structural continuum between liquid, vapor and
supercritical fluid at the critical point. The
difference in properties between liquid and SCF
at pressures above Pcritial is perfectly gradational.
There is no phase boundary between liquid and
SCF. The only discontinuity is in the names used
to describe the fluids. Indeed at high pressures
and moderate temperatures, SCF is often
referred to as "a fluid of liquid -like density". The
same remarks apply to the purely semantic
difference between vapor and SCF at
temperatures above the critical temperature.
Synthetic Fluid Inclusions: Fluid inclusions
created artificially in experimental apparatuses.
Typically, P, T and fluid composition are fixed
during the experiments. Inclusions are induced
371
in crystals by forcing mineral precipitation or
crack-healing. Because the properties of
synthetic fluid inclusions can be chosen at will,
they make ideal standard substances for
analytical methods designed for natural fluid
inclusions.
System: In fluid inclusion studies the term
"system" is usually used in a thermodynamic
sense, i.e., it refers to the portion of the model
universe under consideration for a specific
problem (e.g., an individual model fluid
inclusion, an assemblage of model fluid
inclusions, a model rock sample, a model
hydrothermal vein, a model crust of the Earth,
etc.). As they are elements of abstract models,
systems are defined to have properties that are
convenient for the problem at hand. Thus,
systems can be defined to consist of fixed
composition, e.g., 10 mol % CH4 and 90 mol %
H2O, or they may be defined by components,
e.g., CH4 and H2 O, such that all values of XCH4
are encompassed. One way to name a system is
to list the components in order of decreasing
volatility, e.g., CH4 –CO2–H2 O–NaCl. System
boundaries are also defined according to the
problem at hand (e.g., open, closed, isobaric,
etc.). Perfectly behaved fluid inclusions can be
modelled as "diathermal, isochoric, isoplethic
systems", i.e., as systems that maintain thermal
equilibrium with their surroundings, and that
have fixed volume and fixed compositio n.
Tcritical : Temperature of the critical point of a
specified bulk chemical composition or fluid
inclusion.
Td: see Decrepitation Temperature
Te: see Eutectic Temperature
Tf : see Tm and Tt .
Th: see Homogenization Temperature
Ti : see Initial Melting Temperature
Tlab : Laboratory or room temperature
Tm : see Final Melting Temperature
Tn: see Nucleation Temperature
Tt: see Trapping Temperature
Ttriple: Temperature of the triple point of a
specified bulk chemical composition or fluid
inclusion.
Total: Synonym of "bulk"; refers to the properties
of an entire fluid inclusion.
Total Homogenization: see Homogenization
Temperature
Trapped Minerals, Trapped Phases: Also
termed "accidentally trapped minerals", see
Captured Minerals, Captured Phases
Trapping : see Fluid Inclusion Trapping
Trapping Temperature (Tt): The temperature
of trapping (formation) of a fluid inclusion. In
some literature the symbol T f has been used for
"temperature of formation" but this can lead to
confusion with other studies where the same
symbol has been used for "temperature of
fusion".
Triple Element, Triple Point, Triple curve, etc.:
The unique geometric element on a phase
diagram (e.g., a point in P-T space) at which a
specified 3-phase assemblage is stable. For
example, the 3-phase assemb lage SLV is stable
in the pure H2 O system only at a unique P-T
point, termed the "triple point". In contrast, the
3-phase assemblage Laq LCO2 V in the CO2 -H2 O
system is stable along a univariant "triple curve"
in P -T space.
Trivariant: A phase assemblage with variance of
3, e.g., liquid water in the binary CO2 –H2 O
system.
Univariant: A phase assemblage with variance of
1, e.g., LV in the pure H2 O system.
Unmixing: see Exsolution
V: see Vapor
V: Volume, e.g., in cm3
V m : see Molar Volume
Vapor (V): A fluid in equilibrium with a denser
liquid phase, or at pressures below the liquid +
vapor coexistence curve of a specified bulk
chemical composition. "Vapor" is the American
English spelling of the British English
"vapour". Synonym of "gas".
Variance: The number of system parameters, such
as P, Vm, T, that can be imposed independently
without changing the number of phases in a
particular phase assemblage. For example, in a
372
pure H2 O inclusion containing liquid and vapor
at Tlab , T can be increased without one of the
phases disappearing, even though their volume
fractions may change. However, if T is increased
and P is decreased arbitrarily, then liquid will
disappear. Evidently, LV coexistence in pure
H2O is univariant. The variance of a system can
be calculated from the Gibbs phase rule.
Volume Fraction (ϕ α ): The fraction of phase a in
an entire fluid inclusion or in a system. By
definition, ϕ α = Vα /(Vα + ∑ Vβ ) = Vα /(Vtotal ) ,
β
where V denotes volume (e.g., in cm3 ), and the
denominator is the sum of the volumes of all
phases in the inclusion (β stands for all phases
other than α). ϕα has dimensions of
volume/volume and therefore it is unitless, with
values of 0 = ϕα = 1. Because phases in multi-
phase fluid inclusions increase or diminish in
size as a function of temperature, it is important
to indicate the temperature at which a volume -
fraction measurement is made. For example,
ϕV(25°C) = 0.40 means that a vapor bubble
occupies 40 vol. % of the inclusion at 25°C.
Here the Standard International (S.I.) symbol
for volume fraction is used, namely, one of the
two lower-case Greek letters for phi or "f",
indicating "fraction". Older fluid inclusion
literature uses a variety of symbols and
definitions, e.g., F for "degree of fill", meaning
the extent to which the inclusion is filled by
liquid, the "vapor" being approximated by a
vacuum; Fα for "volume fraction" of the
subscripted phase; Rα for "volume ratio" of the
subscripted phase.
X i , x i: see Mole Fraction
GREEK SYMBOLS
ϕ α : see Volume Fraction
ρ α : see Density, e.g., in g·cm–3 ; see also Molar
Volume
Acknowledgements: Alfons Van den Kerkhof
and Iain Samson kindly made critical
comments on this glossary.