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Virginia Tech

Low Temperature Phase Relations in the System H2O-NaCl-FeCl2

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The low temperature phase behavior of the system H2O-NaCl-FeCl2 was examined using synthetic fluid inclusions. Experiments were conducted along the 5 wt% NaCl (relative to the total solution) pseudobinary, with FeCl2 concentrations varying from 2 to 33 wt%, and along the pseudobinary defined by mixing known amounts of FeCl2-4H2O with a 5 wt% NaCl solution, with final FeCl2 concentrations varying from 0 to 29 wt%. Synthetic fluid inclusions in quartz were prepared in cold-seal pressure vessels at 500 degrees C - 800 degrees C and 2 or 3 kilobars. The fO2 conditions were controlled by the Ni-NiO equilibrium curve. The liquid released from the capsule upon opening was initially colorless, but turned yellow-orange after contact with atmospheric O2. The clear color is characteristic of ferrous iron solutions, whereas the yellow-orange color is consistent with the presence of Fe3+ in solution. This color change suggested that the unopened capsules initially contained ferrous iron in solution, which oxidized to ferric iron when exposed to the atmosphere. Borisenko (1977) reported a eutectic temperature of -37 degrees C for the system H2O-NaCl-FeCl2. In this study, it was not possible to verify this temperature due to the persistence of a metastable liquid down to liquid N2 temperatures (~-196 degrees C). Final ice melting temperatures were obtained for concentrations less than 24 wt% FeCl2 and show a decrease in temperature with increase in FeCl2 concentration. For more concentrated solutions, final melting temperatures could not be obtained because the samples could not be frozen.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Geological Sciences
Department dc:contributor.department
Geological Sciences
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1998

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Baldassaro, Paige Marie
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Bodnar, Robert J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Rimstidt, J. Donald
  • Tracy, Robert J.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-02072000-12380020
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/31155

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Baldassaro, Paige Marie. Low Temperature Phase Relations in the System H2O-NaCl-FeCl2. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/31155