Three-dimensional imaging of a single fluid inclusion in sphalerite by nano X-ray tomography

• 3D images of a fluid inclusion hosted within sphalerite based on nano X-ray tomography.
• 3D animation viewer makes the fluid inclusion clearly.
• The 3D volume (V3D) of the fluid inclusion investigated is 19% lower than estimation based on conventional method.

This study first described three-dimension images of a fluid inclusion hosted within sphalerite based on transmission nano X-ray tomography. It shows multiple shapes of the fluid inclusion viewed from different angles. This fluid inclusion contains both vapor and liquid phases, with irregular, asymmetry shape and concaved boundary. A reconstructed three-dimension animation viewer makes the shapes clearly. This study offers a technique to penetrate inside the fluid inclusion and calculate the volume of the single fluid inclusion based on the 3D images and animation, which can be applied for the future single fluid inclusion compositional studies.