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Temperature and pressure dependence of P-wave velocity and electrical conductivity of gneiss: a review

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Abstract

The gneiss layer (body), a universal physical layer found across the Earth’s continents, has a low wave velocity and high electrical conductivity. Research on the properties of this layer, particularly the P-wave velocity and electrical conductivity, contributes to a better understanding of the mid-lower crust of the Earth. It also allows us to explore the mechanism of seismicity due to its relationship with the earthquake center location. Previous work on the P-wave velocity and electrical conductivity of rocks at high temperatures and confining pressure has provided fundamental results. In the current study, we collected P-wave velocity and electrical conductivity data of gneisses with temperature and pressure from research based in China as well as at the global scale. Results reveal the P-wave velocity to increase with pressure. Moreover, we determined regimes that result in low P-wave velocity and high electrical conductivity in the gneiss stratum. In order to fully implement our results, further research is required in areas such as the mutation and the transition pressure under increasing P-wave velocity.

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Funding

This research was supported by the Opening Project of Geological Research Institute for Coal Green Mining (grant no. MTy2019-13) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 41972288).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Research Institute for Coal Green Mining, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Qiang Sun & Yuliang Zhang

  2. College of Water Resource and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Jianjun Hu

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Yuliang Zhang

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  1. Qiang Sun
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  2. Jianjun Hu
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  3. Yuliang Zhang
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Correspondence to Yuliang Zhang.

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Responsible Editor: Narasimman Sundararajan

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Sun, Q., Hu, J. & Zhang, Y. Temperature and pressure dependence of P-wave velocity and electrical conductivity of gneiss: a review. Arab J Geosci 14, 1979 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08374-8

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