New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting — Abstracts

Fluid inclusions in fossil resin (amber) occur in a variety of sizes and shapes with a diversity of contents and appear to be ubiquitous in amber of all genetic types. Of all types of inclusions, gaseous inclusions are the most common; two phase inclusions are abundant, however. We characterize genetic types of fossil resin by the following four end members: (1) primary, those fossilized in situ which have been neither transported nor metamorphosed, (2) secondary, those squeezed out of coals and lig-nites during coalification processes, (3) Tertiary fossil resin is primary and secondary resin that has been transported and/or metamorphosed, and (4) Quaternary, resin products found in petroleum.

Studies of diffusion rates and re-equilibation of included fluids may allow us to reinterpret the results of the mass trometric analysis of the contents of fluid inclusions in of various ages, botanical affinity, and genetic origin. Diffusion coefficients and solubility vary widely as a result number of variables associated with each sample of fossil resin. Therefore, it is imperative to characterize both the diffusion solubility of atmospheric gases in a sample before concluIsions as to the composition of paleoatmospheres.