Chemical fingering printing of fluids in geological environments

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Fluids constitute an integral part of the earth's crust and are involved in many important processes, including forming hydrothermal mineral resources such as precious- (Au, Ag, PGEs), base- (Cu, Pb, Zn) and high-tech (Ta, Nb, W, Sn) metals. Importantly, samples of such fluids once present millions of years ago are preserved in the form of submicroscopic features (<5-20 microns) called fluid inclusions. With appropriate equipment, it is possible to measure the thermometric properties of these preserved fluids. The thermometric data permit one to reconstruct the conditions responsible for fluid entrapment and, hence, the associated mineralization. Because of its importance, this technique is widely used in the field of economic geology, as it allows direct measurement of the properties of ore-forming fluids. Integration of this data with other geological and geochemical constraints leads to development of mineral deposit models widely used in mineral exploration.