Fluid Inclusion Analysis

Our laboratory facilities include instruments for:

Petrography of fluid inclusions:

• Microscopes and cameras for observations in visible, ultraviolet and near-infrared light
• Scanning electron microscope (SEM) with cathodoluminescence and variable-pressure SE-detectors
• Spindle stages for 3D viewing of samples immersed in matching-index oil

Identification of fluids and captured minerals, and quantitative analysis of gases:

• Raman spectrometer: Horiba Jobin-Yvon LabRam HR-800 confocal instrument with red (632.8 nm) He-Ne and green (532.12 nm) Nd-YAG lasers, focussed through an Olympus BX41 microscope.
• Infrared microspectrometer: Bruker Hyperion with FPA detector
• Crushing stages for releasing gases under immersion oil

Microthermometric measurements of phase transitions:

• Linkam MSD-600 and THMS-G-600 heating-cooling stages for -190 to 600 °C (with nominal ± 0.1 °C precision), mounted on Olympus BX51 microscopes with long working-distance lenses..

Quantitative elemental analysis:

• Laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) using a GeoLas-Pro 2006 193 nm ArF Excimer laser system (Lambda Physik / Coherent) combined with an Elan DRC-e quadrupole mass spectrometer (Perkin Elmer).

Isotopic analysis (non-routine)

• Mass spectrometers for Sr and He isotope ratio analyses.