Electrical properties of rocks

Abstract

The theory of charge transport, conduction and polarisation mechanisms are briefly presented, followed by a review of the DC resistivity, relative dielectric permittivity and loss tangent for rocks and minerals. The importance of pore fluid conductivity is highlighted with a full summary of the electrical properties of water and aqueous solutions, and appropriate mixing laws for water in rocks. Water-rock chemical interactions may also be important. These effects are illustrated by a discussion of the electrical properties of basalt and sandstone. Extensive tables of results for the room temperature electrical properties of minerals, chemical compounds and rocks are given. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity for a range of minerals and rocks are presented graphically as Arrhenius diagrams. -P.Denniss