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Fluid inclusions in salt from the Rayburn and Vacherie domes, Louisiana

January 1, 1979

Core samples from the Rayburn and Vacherie salt domes in Louisiana were examined for fluid inclusions, in connection with the possible use of such domes for nuclear waste storage sites. Three types of fluid inclusions were found, brine, compressed gas, and oil (in decreasing volume percent abundance). The total amount of such fluids is small, certainly < 0.1 vol. % and probably in the range 0.01 to 0.001 volume %, but the inclusions are highly erratic in distribution. Unlike many bedded salt deposits, the brine inclusions in this salt contain fluids that are not far from simple NaCl-H2O solutions, with very little of other ions. One of three possible explanations for such fluids is that fresh water penetrated the salt at some unknown time in the past and was trapped; if such entry of fresh water has occurred in the past, it might also occur again in the future.

Publication Year 1979
Title Fluid inclusions in salt from the Rayburn and Vacherie domes, Louisiana
DOI 10.3133/ofr791675
Authors Edwin Roedder, H. E. Belkin
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Open-File Report
Series Number 79-1675
Index ID ofr791675
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
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