Pore-structure visualization in microdioritic enclaves

This paper is part of the special publication Developments in petrophysics (eds M.A. Lovell and P.K. Harvey). We present a simple methodlogy for estimating key petrophysical characteristics of partially molten (igneous) porous media using microgranular (microdiritic) enclaves from the Ross of Mull granite, Scotland, as examples. A number of enclaves have been infiltrated by granitic melt while still partially molten, with the infiltration (porosity) network now preserved as frozen-in granitic melt. By serial sectioning through individual enclaves, we show that the preserved infiltration channel network is interconnected in three dimensions. Using image analysis techniques, we have estimated the porosity (∅) of individual enclave sections and obtained the variation in porosity with depth. Simple representation of the pore-channel network on a branch and node chart allows useful petrophysical characteristics including the connectivity, genus and tortuosity of the network to be estimated. Computer-enhanced reconstructions of the pore network in three dimensions are shown that provide a powerful way of visualizing complex geometries in porous media.