Application of Raman Microscopy to Fluid Inclusions in Minerals

Overview Fluid inclusions are small, sealed, naturally occurring volumes found in mineral host crystals containing encapsulated aqueous and non-aqueous liquids and gases. Discrete mineral phases may also occur within fluid inclusions, either by precipitation from the soluterich fluids or via collocation at a host crystal defect. Fluid inclusions appear in many different patterns. For example, fluid inclusions can be found isolated in a host crystal trapped during initial crystallization or in trails along former micro-fractures or grain boundaries. The study of the abundance, orientation, and chemistry of fluid inclusions provides a rich history of formation and alteration over time, contributing to both fundamental studies of geologic processes as well as practical assessments of economic value.