Equation of State of the H2O–CO2–CaCl2 Fluid System and Properties of Fluid Phases at Р-Т Parameters of the Middle and Lower Crust

Abstract

A numerical thermodynamic model is proposed for one of the most important geological fluid system, ternary H₂O–CO₂–CaCl₂ system, at P-T conditions of the middle and lower crust and crust–mantle boundary. The model is based on the previously proposed equation for concentration dependence of the excess Gibbs free energy and on the first obtained P-T dependencies of the coefficients of the equation of state (EOS) expressed via molar volumes of the components. The EOS allows to predict the properties of the fluid participating in the majority of deep petrogenetic processes: its phase state (homogeneous or multi-phase), densities of fluid phases, concentrations of components in the co-existing phases, and the chemical activities of the components. The model precisely reproduces all available experimental data on the phase state of the ternary H₂O–CO₂–CaCl₂ fluid system in the ranges of temperatures 773.15–1073.15 K and pressures 0.1–0.9 GPa and also allows the correct application of the EOS beyond the experimentally studied range of temperatures and pressures up to P = 2 GPa and T = 1673.15 K. The possibility of the correct extrapolation of our EOS is ensured by using the parametrization of P-T dependencies via the molar volume of water. The latter remains in the experimental domain of values or falls slightly beyond its boundaries, when increasing temperatures and pressures.