Melt inclusion

Multiple melt inclusions in an olivine crystal. Individual inclusions are oval or round in shape and consist of clear glass, together with a small round vapor bubble and in some cases a small square spinel crystal. The black arrow points to one good example, but there are several others. The occurrence of multiple inclusions within a single crystal is relatively common

A melt inclusion is a small parcel or "blobs" of melt(s) that is entrapped by crystals growing[1] in magma and eventually forming igneous rocks. In many respects it is analogous to a fluid inclusion within magmatic hydrothermal systems.[2][3] Melt inclusions tend to be microscopic in size and can be analyzed for volatile contents that are used to interpret trapping pressures of the melt at depth.

  1. ^ Roedder, Edwin (1979). "Origin and significance of magmatic inclusions". Bulletin de Minéralogie. 102 (5): 487–510. doi:10.3406/bulmi.1979.7299.
  2. ^ Roedder, Edwin (1984). "Fluid Inclusions". Reviews in Mineralogy. 12: 644.
  3. ^ Becker, S.P.; Bodnar, R.J.; Reynolds, T.J. (2019). "Temporal and spatial variations in characteristics of fluid inclusions in epizonal magmatic-hydrothermal systems: Applications in exploration for porphyry copper deposits". Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 204: 240–255. Bibcode:2019JCExp.204..240B. doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2019.06.002. S2CID 197560284.