Microprobe analyses of the halogen contents of apatites from two samples of amphibolite-facies schist from Connemara, Ireland, have been used to calculate the fugacity ratios fHCl/fH2O and fHF/fH2O using the experimental data of Korzhinskiy. The results imply fugacities for both acids in the range 0.03 to 0.1 bars, but whereas for the lower grade rock fHF > fHCl, the migmatitic sample gives fHF⋍fHCl. An independent estimate of fHF/fH2O from the biotite composition in one sample is in acceptable agreement with the result obtained from apatite.

We report a new type of högbomite in a spinel- and sapphirine-bearing silica-deficient Mg-Al rock from Manavadi at the northern margin of the Madurai Block along the Palghat-Cauvery shear zone system, which defines the Archaean-Proterozoic collisional boundary in southern India. Högbomite occurs here as fine- to medium-grained euhedral to subhedral crystals enclosed within or along grain boundaries of greenish spinel. It is compositionally very unique due to the lack of TiO2 (<0.2 wt.%) and enrichment in Al2O3 (66.4—70.8 wt.%) compared to other occurrences. The variety of högbomite described in this study, confirmed by laser Raman spectroscopy, has not been reported elsewhere previously. Högbomite in this study is subdivided into three groups based on the XMg (=Mg/ (FeTotal+Mg)) ratio; 0.54—0.57, 0.61—0.73 and 0.77—0.79. Compositional data suggest a linear element substitution of 3(Fe+Mg) = 2Al for the Ti-free högbomite, a trend that is distinct from previously reported Ti-bearing högbomites. Textures and mineral chemistry data suggest that the following reaction took place at retrograde stage (T <800°C): spinel + H2O + O2 → högbomite + corundum + magnetite, implying that introduction of hydrous and oxidized fluid as well as low bulk-Ti content played an important role in the formation of Ti-free högbomite.

Fluid inclusions in the progressively metamorphosed rocks of the Joroinen-Sulkava area, located in the south-eastern end of the Raahe-Ladoga zone near the Archaean-Proterozoic boundary, southeastern Finland, fall into four main categories: (1) H2O-rich, (2) CO2-rich, (3) mixed H2O-CO2 and (4) CH4-N2 inclusions. The samples were collected from quartz veins associated with different deformation phases (D2-D4) and from metapelites. The progressive stage of metamorphism took place mainly during the D2 deformation. The age of metamorphism and D2 deformation becomes younger with increase in metamorphic grade from amphibolite to granulite facies.

Regional distribution of the different fluid types indicates a change in fluid regime from H2O to CO2-dominant during the progressive stage of the metamorphism. H2O entered preferentially into the anatectic melt. The possibility of CO2 infiltration from deeper crust can not be excluded, because granulite facies rocks occur most probably below the lower grade zones. A zone enriched in CH4-N2 fluids is located near the lineament zones caused by the D3 deformation. This fluid type dominates the Au-bearing D2–D3 quartz lenses in the K-feldspar-sillimanite zone. Density data of early CO2 inclusions in combination with estimates of metamorphic temperatures (645–750°C) in the different metamorphic zones indicate a pressure range of 3.0–4.5 kbar, which is consistent with data derived from mineral geobarometry. The diversity of fluid types encountered in the D2–D4 quartz veins are a result of the passage of different fluids through veins at different times without re-equilibrating with the wall rocks. However, it is supposed that the CH4-N2 fluid is derived from a CO2-rich fluid with XCH4 ⩽ 0.4 by re-equilibration during its passage through the rocks.

The 370 Ma peraluminous South Mountain Batholith (SMB) intrudes Meguma Supergroup metasedimentary rocks in Nova Scotia. The New Ross area of the SMB contains polymetallic mineralisation (Sn, W, U, Mo, Cu and Mn) in pegmatite, greisen and vein directly or indirectly associated with highly evolved fractions of the SMB. Eight mineral deposits from this area have several fluid inclusion types hosted by quartz: (1) monophase liquid (L); (2) monophase vapour (V); (3) aqueous, L-V (4) aqueous, L-rich + solids; (5) aqueous, L-rich + halite. Inclusions have irregular to equant shapes and are pseudo-secondary or secondary. The irregularity and variability of L:V ratios within fluid inclusion populations suggest post-entrapment modifications of inclusions (i.e. necking).

Thermometric data indicate three distinct fluids in terms of salinity: (1) 19-25 wt. % equiv. NaCl (rarely 14-25 wt. % NaCl equiv.), (2) 29-43 wt. % equiv. NaCl, and (3) 0-9 wt. % equiv. NaCl. Temperatures of first melting and ice/hydrohalife melting indicate CaCl2 in solution. Proximity of the deposits to Meguma Supergroup metasedimentary rocks suggests that this Ca component may be externally derived. The majority of the low-salinity fluid population has the composition of meteoric water. Electron microprobe analyses of artificially decrepitated mounds identify Na, Ca and K as major solutes, with a continuum in terms of compositions. Other solute components in the mounds are Fe and Ba, and a variety of metals of unknown speciation also occur (Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni). Homogenisation temperatures (Th) range from c. 80°C to 370°C, but for inclusion assemblages the range is 10°C to 20°C. Given the 3 kbar depth of emplacement of the SMB, estimated entrapment temperatures are c. 200°C to 550°C. The fluid inclusion data appear to reflect: (1) trapping of mixed Na-K-Ca brines during isobaric cooling in pegmatite and greisen deposits as indicated by large ranges in Th; (2) formation of deposits at different ambient pressures (i.e. depth); and (3) mixing of fluids of different reservoirs (i.e. magmatic, metamorphic, meteoric).