Fluid Inclusions, Solid-Solid Transitions in Salt, Ceramics and Minerals to Calibrate the Microthermometric Stage

Abstract

The Linkam THMS 600 microthermometric stage use the fluid inclusions to deliver quantitative paleo-temperatures of subsurface past environments that are critical not only for understanding past climate evolution but also to validate the outcome of predictive models of future climates. In this case, the calibration of the microthermometric stage is the primordial condition to have the most precise temperatures. Thus the calibration of the microthermometric stage is performed from −56 to +573 °C using reversible fusions or solid-solid transitions in standards as salts, ceramics, minerals or synthetic fluid inclusions. The nine transitions measured define a linear calibration curve with negative slope, showing a correction ranging from 1.6 to 16 °C between −60 and 600 °C. The vertical and lateral gradients (temperature bias) are estimated and discussed.