Origin mechanisms of ambient inclusion trails (AITs)

Determine the origin of ambient inclusion trails in cherts and authigenic minerals, testing hypotheses such as inclusion migration within sealed substrates under directional fluid flow versus biological microboring, and establish diagnostic criteria that separate AITs from biological tubular microcavities.

Background

Ambient inclusion trails (AITs) are tubular tunnels with consistent diameters and polygonal cross-sections found in hard substrates. Proposed origins include migration of crystalline or organic inclusions and localized dissolution.

The review contrasts AITs with biological tubular microcavities, but emphasizes lingering uncertainty about AIT genesis and the need for robust distinguishing features.

References

The origins of AITs are uncertain but are speculated to arise from the migration of crystalline or organic inclusions within sealed substrates.

— Self-assembled versus biological pattern formation in geology (2601.00323 - Cartwright et al., 1 Jan 2026) in Subsubsection Ambient inclusion trails and tubular microcavities