Electrical conductivity of dry lower crustal rocks

Geophysics ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Kariya ◽  
T. J. Shankland

This study provides values of electrical conductivity of possible lower crustal materials to assist interpretation of lower crustal magnetotelluric soundings. We present mean values of conductivity measurements collected from the literature for dry mafic and silicic rocks in the temperature range of 500°C to 1000°C. We observe statistically significant differences between rock types: mafic rocks are better conductors than granites by about half an order of magnitude and within the mafic group, aphanitic (fine‐grained) rocks have higher conductivity than phaneritic (coarse‐grained) ones. “Best‐fitting” curves of log conductivity versus temperature are presented for each rock type to show mean log conductivity values together with standard deviations so that most probable temperature ranges can be inferred from conductivity. Because the laboratory rocks are dry, their conductivities are lower at a given temperature than they would be if fluids or volatiles were present; hence any temperatures inferred from magnetotelluric (MT) contivities are upper bounds.

1969 ◽  
Vol 37 (288) ◽  
pp. 472-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Strong

SummaryA study of augite in over three hundred thin sections of mainly alkalic rocks permits the distinction of two main types of hour-glass structure. The common ‘swallow-tailed’, sometimes skeletal augite crystals are found in the fine-grained groundmass of many rock types, and it is suggested that rapid crystallization alone accounts for their formation. Hence, this type of hour-glass structure has been called ‘quench hour-glass’. The hour-glass structures of larger augite crystals of porphyritic and coarse-grained rocks are commonly described as hour-glass ‘zoning’, as they result primarily from compositional differences between the different sectors. These were formed under conditions of relatively slower cooling than the ‘quench hour-glass’, and thus cannot be explained in the same way. They are thought to have formed by a process involving adsorption of impurities on a particular crystal face so as to impede growth of these faces, producing an initial skeleton of hour-glass form, which is completed by later crystallization of augite richer in FeO, Na2O, TiO2, and Al2O3. This hypothesis also explains the patchy zoning of other augite crystals, casting doubt on some petrogenetic interpretations of such zones as core zones.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-202
Author(s):  
Stylianos Aspiotis ◽  
Jochen Schlüter ◽  
Kaja Harter-Uibopuu ◽  
Boriana Mihailova

Abstract. Raman spectroscopy has been applied to check if there are detectible material differences beneath the inscribed and non-inscribed areas of marble-based written artefacts, which could be further used to visualize lost or hardly readable text via suitable mapping. As a case study, marble segments with ∼ 2000-year-old inscribed letters from Asia Minor (western Turkey) and marble gravestones with 66 ± 14-year-old inscriptions from the cemetery of Ohlsdorf (Hamburg, Germany) have been subjected to Raman spectroscopy, as well as to complementary X-ray diffraction, wavelength-dispersive electron probe microanalysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, to thoroughly study the effect of different environmental conditions, grain size, and inscription age on the nature and penetration depth of marble alteration. The results demonstrate that environmental conditions rule over the type of dominant weathering changes, which are carotenoid molecular inclusions produced by lichen and amorphous carbon for marbles from Hamburg and Asia Minor, respectively. The alteration is much stronger in medium- and coarse-grained than in fine-grained marble, but it is suppressed by letter colouring. In the absence of letter colouring, the weathering-related products in both ancient and modern engraved marbles are more abundant beneath than away from the engraved areas, and the penetration depth is larger due to the enhancement of fissures and micro-cracks around the inscribed areas. We show that the Raman intensity ratio between the strongest peak of the weathering-related product (ν(C=C) ∼ 1520 cm−1 for carotenoids or the G peak ∼ 1595 cm−1 for soot-like carbon) and the strongest peak of marble (CO3 stretching near 1087 cm−1) can serve as a quantitative marker to indirectly map the lateral distribution of cracks induced during the inscribing process and hence can potentially be used to trace lost text on vanished marble inscriptions. This approach can be applied to other rock types, but further studies are required to identify the corresponding autochthonous weathering-related products.


1980 ◽  
Vol 26 (94) ◽  
pp. 283-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Armstrong

AbstractCompressive strain-rates in discrete layers of a sub-alpine snow cover are analyzed. Individual layers are identified according to density and the dominant type of metamorphism which contributed to their formation. Data were collected during four winter seasons at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) snow-study site (3 400 m), Red Mountain Pass, south-western Colorado, U.S.A. At average densities of less than 250 kg m₋3the influence of metamorphism on strain-rate is not apparent. However, at densities greater than 250 kg m₋3, two separate relationships emerge for strain as a function of crystal type and density. While two adjacent layers may exhibit comparable densities, a layer of sintered, fine grained (ET) snow indicates a strain-rate approximately one order of magnitude greater than an adjacent layer of cohesionless, coarse-grained (TG) snow.


1988 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1485-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Shaw ◽  
M. G. Truscott ◽  
E. A. Gray ◽  
T. A. Middleton

There is no preferential partitioning of boron among the principal rock-forming minerals in high-grade rocks of the Kapuskasing Structural Zone (KSZ) and the Wawa Domal Gneiss region (WDG). Lithium is strongly concentrated in biotite and other ferromagnesian minerals but does not show consistent partitioning between these and the sialic minerals.The distribution of B and Li within a rock may be studied using an alpha-track image, which shows that the inconsistencies in partitioning may be largely attributed to disturbance of mineral equilibria by postmetamorphic low-grade alteration that deposited B and Li.Boron has similar concentrations in all the rock types studied, although it is an incompatible element that elsewhere accumulates in pegmatites. Lithium concentrations are low in the anorthositic rocks but are otherwise very variable. In some but not all rocks higher than usual B and Li can be attributed to introduction during alteration.Boron occurs at low concentrations (2–3 ppm) throughout both the KSZ and the WDG areas and has an abundance similar to that in other granulite terranes. It is significantly lower than in average upper crustal rocks (9–15 ppm), and this is attributed to loss by fluid transport during formation of lower crustal material. Lithium occurs at similar concentrations in upper crustal rocks (20–22 ppm) as in the WDG area (27 ppm) but is lower in the KSZ (13 ppm), suggesting again a loss by fluid transport in the deep crust. Both estimates of loss are minima because of the evidence of reintroduction of the elements during later alteration.Although there is field and petrological evidence of anatectic melting in the KSZ–WDG region the distribution patterns of B and Li show no evidence of this: this is not unexpected for elements that readily partition into a fluid phase.


Author(s):  
Wei Xu ◽  
Di-Cheng Zhu ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Roberto F Weinberg ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Amphibole plays an important role in the petrogenesis and evolution of arc magmas, but its role is not completely understood yet. Here, a field, petrological, geochronological and geochemical study is carried out on ultramafic-mafic arc cumulates with textural and chemical heterogeneities and on associated host diorites from the eastern Gangdese Batholith, southern Tibet to explore the problem. The cumulates occur as a large body in diorite host-rocks. The core of the body consists of coarse-grained Cpx hornblendite with a porphyritic texture. Towards the contact with the host diorite, the coarse-grained Cpx hornblendite grades to relatively homogeneous fine-grained melagabbro. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates they all crystallized at 200 ± 1 Ma. Textural features and whole-rock and mineral chemical data reveal that both the Cpx hornblendite and the melagabbro are mixtures of two different mineral assemblages that are not in equilibrium: (1) brown amphibole and its clinopyroxene inclusions; (2) matrix clinopyroxene + green amphibole + plagioclase + quartz + accessory phases. Clinopyroxene and brown amphibole from the first assemblage are enriched in middle rare earth elements (MREE) relative to light REE (LREE) and heavy REE (HREE), and are weakly depleted in Ti, whereas clinopyroxene and green amphibole from the second assemblage are characterized by LREE enrichment over MREE-HREE and more marked Sr and Ti depletion. The higher Mg#, MgO and Cr of the late-formed green amphibole than the early-formed brown amphibole suggest that the two assemblages are not on the same liquid line of descent. Given the close relations of the three rock types in the exposed crustal section, the cumulates are interpreted to have formed in an open system, in which an ultramafic cumulate body consisting of the first assemblage reacted with the host dioritic melt to form new clinopyroxene and amphibole of the second assemblage. The melt calculated to be in equilibrium with the first mineral assemblage resembles an average continental arc basalt, that is less evolved than the host dioritic melt, responsible for the second mineral assemblage. On the basis of whole-rock Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic similarity of the cumulates and a host diorite sample, we argue that the host diorites were formed through crystal fractionation from the parent melt of the first assemblage. Results of least-squares mass-balance calculations suggest the quantities of the host dioritic melts, involved in the generation of these modified cumulates, vary from ~25% to ~44%. The presence of magmatic epidote in the host diorites and Al-in-Hb geobarometry indicate the reaction that occurred when the dioritic melts percolated through the cumulate body was at ~6 kbar. Both the brown and green amphiboles are enriched in MREE relative to HREE, and can impart residual melts with a strong geochemical signature of amphibole fractionation (low Dy/Yb). Thus, we conclude that fractional crystallization and melt-rock reaction are two mechanisms by which amphibole controls arc magma petrogenesis and evolution.


Clay Minerals ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Wilson ◽  
John Keeling

AbstractHalloysite with tubular morphology is formed in a wide range of geological environments from the alteration of various rock types. Intrusive acidic coarse-grained rocks, such as granites, pegmatites and anorthosite, with large potash and sodic feldspars contents, are subsequently altered to kaolinite, halloysite and other clay minerals by weathering or shallow hydrothermal fluid activity. Processing to separate the halloysite-kaolinite fraction from the altered host rock provides a product which can be used as a paper filler and in ceramics and fibreglass, among other uses, with various deposits in Brazil, China, Thailand and elsewhere. In the Kerikeri-Matauri Bay district of Northland, North Island, New Zealand, volcanic alkali rhyolite was extruded as domes and cooled rapidly with fine-grained feldspar subsequently altered to halloysite. The IMERYS plant in Matauri Bay separates the clay from the quartz-cristobalite matrix with an ∼20% yield of halloysite. The principal market is for high-quality porcelain and bone china that require low levels of Fe2O3 and TiO2. Deposits with high levels of halloysite occur in China, Turkey and the USA. The Dragon mine in Utah, USAwas recently reopened by Applied Minerals Inc. and now produces halloysite from zones of up to 100% white halloysite. Smaller occurrences of tubular halloysite are mined in China, Turkey and elsewhere from masses of comparatively pure clay that appear to have crystallized directly from solutions in which Al and Si were soluble.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (252) ◽  
pp. 531-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
TOMOTAKA SARUYA ◽  
KOKI NAKAJIMA ◽  
MORIMASA TAKATA ◽  
TOMOYUKI HOMMA ◽  
NOBUHIKO AZUMA ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWe investigated the effects of microparticles and grain size on the microstructural evolutions and mechanical properties of polycrystalline ice. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted using fine-grained pure ice and silica-dispersed ice under various conditions. Deformation behavior of fine-grained ice was found to be characterized by stress exponent n ≈ 2 and activation energy Q ≈ 60 kJ mol−1. The derived strain rates of fine-grained ice were ≈ 1 order of magnitude larger than those of coarse-grained ice obtained in previous studies, and they were found to be independent of particle dispersion and dependent on the mean grain size of ice, with grain size exponent p ≈ 1.4. Work hardening was observed in dislocation creep, while the strain rate continued to decrease. These results indicate that the deformation mechanism of fine-grained ice is different from typical dislocation creep, often associated with n = 3. Although microparticles restricted grain growth, there was little direct effect on the deformation of fine-grained ice. Microstructural observations of the ice samples indicated that the grain boundaries were straight and that the subgrain boundary densities increased after deformation. Our experiments suggest that grain size and boundaries play important roles in the deformation processes of polycrystalline ice.


1980 ◽  
Vol 26 (94) ◽  
pp. 283-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Armstrong

AbstractCompressive strain-rates in discrete layers of a sub-alpine snow cover are analyzed. Individual layers are identified according to density and the dominant type of metamorphism which contributed to their formation. Data were collected during four winter seasons at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) snow-study site (3 400 m), Red Mountain Pass, south-western Colorado, U.S.A. At average densities of less than 250 kg m₋3 the influence of metamorphism on strain-rate is not apparent. However, at densities greater than 250 kg m₋3, two separate relationships emerge for strain as a function of crystal type and density. While two adjacent layers may exhibit comparable densities, a layer of sintered, fine grained (ET) snow indicates a strain-rate approximately one order of magnitude greater than an adjacent layer of cohesionless, coarse-grained (TG) snow.


Author(s):  
Aurelie Germa ◽  
Danielle Koebli ◽  
Paul Wetmore ◽  
Zachary Atlas ◽  
Austin Arias ◽  
...  

Abstract Exposed plumbing systems provide important insight into crystallization and differentiation in shallow sills beneath volcanic fields. We use whole rock major element, trace element and radiogenic isotopic compositions, along with mineral geochemical data on 125 samples to examine the conditions of melt differentiation in shallow sills from the exposed 4-Ma-old San Rafael subvolcanic field (SRVF), Utah. The field consists of ∼2000 dikes, 12 sills and 63 well preserved volcanic conduits. Intrusive rocks consist of mainly fine-grained trachybasalts and coarse-grained syenites, which are alkaline, comagmatic and enriched in Ba, Sr and LREE. Within sills, syenite is found as veins, lenses, and sheets totally enveloped by the basalt. The SRVF intrusions have geochemical signatures of both enriched sub-continental lithospheric and asthenospheric mantle sources. We estimate partial melting occurred between 1·2 and 1·9 GPa (50–70 km), with mantle potential temperatures in the range 1260–1326 ± 25°C, consistent with those estimated for volcanic rocks erupted on the Colorado Plateau. Geobarometry results based on clinopyroxene chemistry indicate that (1) basalt crystallized during ascent from at least 40 km deep with limited lithospheric storage, and (2) syenites crystallized only in the sills, ∼1 km below the surface. San Rafael mafic magma was emplaced in sills and started to crystallize inward from the sill margins. Densities of basalt and syenite at solidus temperatures are 2·6 and 2·4 g/cc, respectively, with similar viscosities of ∼150 Pa s. Petrographic observations and physical properties suggest that syenite can be physically separated from basalt by crystal compaction and segregation of the tephrophonolitic residual liquid out of the basaltic crystal mush after reaching 30–45% of crystallization. Each individual sill is 10–50 m thick and would have solidified fairly rapidly (1–30 years), the same order of magnitude as the duration of common monogenetic eruptions. Our estimates imply that differentiation in individual shallow sills may occur during the course of an eruption whose style may vary from effusive to explosive by tapping different magma compositions. Our study shows that basaltic magmas have the potential to differentiate to volatile-rich magma in shallow intrusive systems, which may increase explosivity.


Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. E409-E421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Binley ◽  
John Keery ◽  
Lee Slater ◽  
Warren Barrash ◽  
Mike Cardiff

Accurate estimation of the hydrological properties of near-surface aquifers is important because these properties strongly influence groundwater flow and solute transport. Laboratory-based investigations have indicated that induced polarization (IP) properties of porous media may be linked, through either semiempirical or fully mechanistic models, to hydrological properties including hydraulic conductivity. Therefore, there is a need for field assessments of the value of IP measurements in providing insights into the hydrological properties of aquifers. A cross-borehole IP survey was carried out at the Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site (BHRS), an unconsolidated fluvial aquifer that has previously been well-studied with a variety of geophysical and hydrogeologic techniques. High-quality IP measurements were inverted, with careful consideration of the data error structure, to provide a 3D distribution of complex electrical conductivity values. The inverted distribution was further simplified using [Formula: see text]-means cluster analysis to divide the inverted volume into discrete zones with horizontal layering. Identified layers based on complex electrical conductivity inversions are in broad agreement with stratigraphic units identified in previous studies at the site. Although mostly subtle variations in the phase angle are recovered through inversion of field data, greater contrasts in the IP data are evident at some unit boundaries. However, in coarse-grained aquifers, such as the BHRS, the discrimination of mildly contrasting lithologic units and associated changes in hydraulic conductivity of one or two orders of magnitude are unlikely to be achieved through field IP surveys. Despite the difficulty of differentiating subtle differences between all units, overall estimates of hydraulic conductivity purely from our field IP data are typically within an order of magnitude of independently measured values.


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